Which laboratory test is considered a marker for ischemic heart disease?

In the context of markers for ischemic heart disease, the albumin cobalt binding test is particularly noteworthy as it relates to the physiological response to ischemia. This test measures the binding of cobalt to albumin, which can indicate myocardial ischemia due to the lack of perfusion to heart tissues. In moments of ischemia, cellular metabolism shifts from aerobic to anaerobic processes, which can impact the surrounding interstitial and plasma levels of various metabolites, including cobalt.

While CK-MB isoforms are indeed important markers for myocardial injury, rising after cardiac events, they are not primarily used to screen for ischemic heart disease itself but rather to diagnose myocardial infarction. Myosin light chain 1 and free fatty acid binding protein are indicators of other processes and not directly tied to the ischemic heart disease pathophysiology, making them less relevant in this context.

Thus, the albumin cobalt binding test stands out as a more appropriate choice due to its direct relationship with the detection of ischemic conditions in the myocardium.