CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY (CARDIAC CATHETERISATION)
Dr. Richard Mansfield
BSc (Hons) MB ChB MD FRCP FESC
CONSULTANT CARDIOLOGIST
Note: I am happy to answer general questions regarding the content of this website, but I cannot give clinical advice. Such requests will not be answered.
Yes.
A number of blood tests may be necessary and the various tests will depend on the condition being investigated.
1. Cholesterol - this is a measure of how much blood fat is in the body and this is known to be an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. The test will yield a total cholesterol measurement as well as sub fractions of HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol). This will enable your doctor to prescribe a specific diet or cholesterol lowering treatment.
2. Troponin - this is a very specific and sensitive marker of injury to the cardiac muscle and is frequently elevated following a heart attack (myocardial infarction) and may help the doctor to differentiate different types of chest pain.
3. Blood Sugar – a blood sugar test is looking for evidence of diabetes. Diabetes is a risk factor the development of coronary artery disease.
4. Kidney function - this will test how efficient the kidneys are at excreting waste products from the body. Abnormal kidney function can be associated with diabetes and hypertension and may influence prognosis for patients with coronary artery disease.
5. Thyroid – this is an important blood tests when investigating patients with palpitation. Both an over-active and under-active thyroid gland can have effects on the heart rhythm.