In this greatly enlarged and thoroughly updated edition of his much praised Cardiac Markers, Alan Wu and his contributors focus on the use of markers in the practice of cardiology and -- for the first time -- on the use of natriuretic peptides for congestive heart failure. Here, leading international authorities in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, cardiology, emergency medicine, and the in vitro diagnostics industry describe the state-of-the-art uses of cardiac markers when treating coronary artery disease, and discuss in detail how they may be optimally used in a clinical setting. The many new and updated chapters introduce new ischemic markers such as CRP, fatty acid binding protein, ischemia modified albumin, oxidized LDL, whole blood choline, and genetic polymorphisms that portend high risk for cardiovascular disease. The authors address analytical issues, assay development, cutoff concentrations, antibody selection schemes, point-of-care testing, in situ degradation of cardiac troponin, and updated clinical trials. They also discuss the emerging infectious disease etiology of heart disease, as well as the role of troponin in such non-ischemic diseases as renal failure, cardiac surgery, sepsis, myocarditis, and chemotherapeutic drug monitoring. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Cardiac Markers, Second Edition not only offers physicians a complete guide to the use of cardiac markers in clinical practice, but also provides clinical laboratorians a close-up view of the new markers now becoming standard.