Possible mechanisms behind cardiac troponin elevations

• Cardiac-specific troponins are elevated in blood following cardiac injury and are the preferred diagnostic biomarkers when acute myocardial infarction is suspected clinically. Cardiac troponin (cTn) elevations are also observed in clinical conditions without obvious connection to cardiac injury. Irrespective of the underlying condition, cTn elevation is linked to a poor prognosis, even if the elevation is stable over time. Here, we explore mechanisms that may lead to cTn elevations, including necrosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, cell wounds and decreased clearance. The aim is to broaden the perspective of how we interpret unexpected cTn elevations in patients. The cTn elevations may not be able to serve as direct proof of myocardial necrosis especially in the absence of a clear-cut reason for its release.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cardiac troponin I

cardiac troponin T

myocardial injury

release

reversible

necrosis

apoptosis

acute myocardial-infarction

acute coronary syndrome

creatine-kinase

skeletal-muscle

cardiomyocyte apoptosis

myotonic-dystrophy

enzyme

levels

cell-death

t levels

heart

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Toxicology

einhardt ra

1994

science

v263

p390

iong ma

1974

circulation

v49

p283

eenbergen c

1985

circulation research

v57

p864

hwartz p

1984

american journal of pathology

v115

p349

neil pl

1992

american journal of pathology

v140

p1097

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)