Myoglobin | Laboratory research

General Information

Myoglobin is a stable protein that participates in various biological processes: electron transfer, oxygen transport, participation in catalytic processes, and others. Myoglobin has the ability to bind O2, CO and NO to the heme group.

Myoglobin is a heme-containing protein found in both smooth and striated skeletal muscle.

Myoglobin is released from muscle tissue when there is damage to the muscle or a change in the permeability of the muscle cell membranes. Damage to muscle cells leads to disruption of regulation of membrane sodium-calcium channels and increase of ionized calcium level in the intracellular space. This is followed by the activation of calcium-dependent enzymes, which perpetuates metabolic processes and damage to the muscle cell membrane. Violation of the integrity of the membrane leads to an increase in the concentration of myoglobin and creatine kinase in the extracellular space. When filtering a large concentration of myoglobin in the kidney tubules, obstruction of the tubules develops, which causes kidney damage.

An increase in the level of myoglobin in the blood serum is observed in the following conditions:

• Muscle injury
• Myopathies
• Shock
• intense physical activity
• Kidney failure
• Rhabdomyolysis (destruction of muscle tissue)

Elevated serum myoglobin concentration is considered an early, sensitive marker of myocardial damage, although other markers of myocardial damage, such as troponin, are more specific for early diagnostics of the disease.

When is the survey conducted?

• Early diagnostics of cardiac or striated muscle damage
• Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis
• Injury assessment

Patient preparation – 72 hours before the study, intake of products/preparations containing biotin should be stopped

Research material – Venous blood

Reference norm: myoglobin in serum

Men: <155 ng/L
Women: <106 ng/L

Interpretation of results

Elevation of serum myoglobin is a non-specific marker for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction.

An increase in the level of serum myoglobin is observed:

• kidney failure
• Muscle mass injury
• of rhabdomyolysis
• occlusion of blood vessels
• during heartbreak

Test results may be inaccurate in some diseases, especially IgM diseases (Waldenstrom's disease). Lipemic serum also gives incorrect data.