Circulating Markers for Ischemic Heart Disease

The purpose of this research is to determine if two proteins in the blood are increased during acute myocardial infarction and whether their levels are higher in those who develop heart failure than those who do not. These two proteins are produced and potentially released when the heart muscle is damaged. They may then be released into the blood and be detected by standard method in the research laboratory. At this time, detection of an increase in these proteins in the blood is not known to be associated with any disease or myocardial infarction.

Inclusion Criteria: * men and women, 18 years of age and over with acute myocardial infarction (determined by positive cardiac markers -CKMB/ troponin) with or without heart failure (dyspnea, rales, edema, elevated jugular venous pressure, ascites). * Heart failure can be diagnosed using imaging evidence such as dilated heart, poor contractile function or echocardiographic Doppler evidence of diastolic dysfunction or elevated right- or left-sided filling pressures * A control group of male subjects age 60 and older without history of MI or heart disease Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects unable to give consent * Subjects who have undergone cardiac or non-cardiac surgery in the 3 months prior to enrollment