[Troponins can fool]

Rev Port Cardiol. 2010 Sep;29(9):1419-23.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

The development of troponins dramatically changed the diagnosis of cardiac injury. Cardiac troponins are the most sensitive and specific biochemical markers of myocardial damage. In 2000. it was elaborated the new definition of miocardial infarction that reflected the importance of that biomarker. The rationale of including troponin assay in the diagnosis pathway was based on the assumption that myocardial necrosis, regardless of its magnitude, should be characterized as myocardial infarction. However, if the patient's clinical picture do no match an elevated troponin result we shoud suspect a false positive value caused by analytical interferences. This article ilustrates, by presentation of a case report, that in spite of its importance in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, troponin positivity should't be the sole criterion for establishing such a diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / blood*
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Troponin / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Troponin