Analyses of cardiac muscle damage caused by acute CO poisoning

AIM: To study cardiac muscle damage in acute CO poisoning. METHODS: Clinical manifestations, electrocardiograms (ECG) and cardiac muscle enzyme change of 168 patients (observed group) with acute CO poisoning were analyzed. Serum cardiac enzymes in 130 healthy subjects (control group) were compared with those in the observed group. RESULTS: In the observed group, unconsciousness was found in 125 cases (74.4%), cardiac muscle enzyme change in 101 cases (60.11%), and ECG change in 132 cases (78.6%), statistically different from those in the control group (P<0.05). The more serious the CO poisoning, the more obvious were the serum cardiac enzyme changes (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acute CO poisoning causes cardiac muscle damage, which requires appropriate treatment.