Persistent Troponin Elevation After Acute Coronary Syndrome Predicts Mortality

An analysis of observational data suggests that even small elevations in stabilized patients may be clinically important.

Elevated cardiac troponin levels have been shown to predict poor prognosis, not only in patients with acute coronary syndromes but also in the general population. To explore this association in patients with stable coronary disease, investigators for the FRISC-II trial measured cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in a subset of stabilized patients 6 weeks (1086 patients), 3 months (1026 patients), and 6 months (961 patients) after ACS and followed their progress for 5 years.

A cTnI elevation >0.01 µg/L was observed in 48% of patients at 6 weeks. At 6 months, this percentage had fallen to 36%, including new elevations in 11% of patients. Univariate predictors of cTnI elevation at any time point included older age, male sex, hypertension, and previous M…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI