ATP: creatine phosphotransferase in the diagnosis of acute chest pain.

A common problem in clinical medicine is the diagnosis of acute chest pain. Usually, the history, clinical findings, and electrocardiographic evidence are sufficient to enable the clinician to reach a confident diagnosis. Some cases, however, have atypical features or show an electrocardiogram difficult of interpretation, because of previous infarction, left bundle-branch block, previous left ventricular strain, arrhythmias, or changes due to digitalis therapy. In such instances, the clinician may seek the aid of the clinical chemist.