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The new high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays detect very minor troponin elevations, and such elevations can be present in disease states other than ischemia syndromes, such as noncoronary cardiac disease. Distinguishing between them can be challenging, which in turn makes choice of therapy difficult, yet some of the syndromes benefit from early intervention.
In a prospective, multisite, international study, researchers used assays from several manufacturers to measure hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI at presentation and at 1 hour in 887 patients with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients received usual care, including an electrocardiogram. Final diagnoses were adjudicated by two independent cardiologists who were…