The diagnosis of acute MI is based upon the occurence of clinical symptoms such as substernal chest pain, ECG changes such as ST elevation and a rise in the release of very specific biomarkers into the bloodstream that are normally only found in side the heart muscle cell (the myocyte).
The diagnosis can be confirmed at the time of autopsy or at the time of angiography if a closed artery is seen.  A new clinical evidence based<unk>  and classification system has been introduced by Thygesen K, Alpert JS, White HD, et al. and jointly sponsored by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and the World Heart Federation (WHF).
ST elevation myocardial infarction diagnostic criteria
Right ventricular myocardial infarction diagnostic criteria
ST elevation myocardial infarction prognosis
ST elevation myocardial infarction laboratory findings
ST elevation myocardial infarction echocardiography
Unstable angina / non ST elevation myocardial infarction classification
ST elevation myocardial infarction physical examination
ST elevation myocardial infarction risk stratification and prognosis