Myoglobin - Urine
Alternate Names : Urine Myoglobin
Definition
This is a test to detect the presence of myoglobin in urine.
Myoglobin is a protein in heart and skeletal muscles. When a muscle is exercised, it uses up available oxygen. Myoglobin has oxygen bound to it, thus providing an extra reserve of oxygen so that the muscle can maintain a high level of activity for a longer period of time.
When muscle is damaged, the myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys, and eliminated in urine. In large quantities, myoglobin can damage the kidney and break down into toxic compounds, causing kidney failure.
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Why is the Test Performed?
Myoglobin levels may be obtained when muscle damage, including skeletal and heart muscle damage, is suspected.
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