Troponin T in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Multiple interactions are considered to occur among the various forms of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the serum level profile of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) to evaluate factors associated with increased serum levels of cTnT. Patients with AIS enrolled in this prospective observational study were admitted to the hospital <12 hours after stroke onset. At admission, and 4 hours later, all patients were subjected to neurologic examinations and brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging; standard laboratory tests, including cTnT and other cardiac markers; and repeated electrocardiography. Correlations between cTnT and several baseline parameters were tested, and multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of cTnT elevation. In total, 107 consecutive patients with AIS (65 men, mean age 67.2 ± 14.2 years) were enrolled. Thirty-nine patients (36.4%) presented with elevated cTnT above the upper limit of normal. The cTnT levels were correlated significantly with age (r = 0.448) and the levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.528), cystatin C (r = 0.457), creatine kinase-MB mass (r = 0.253), urea (r = 0.281), and albumin (r = -0.219). Multiple logistic regression analysis found creatinine >90 μmol/L (odds ratio 3.45, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 10.85), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (odds ratio 100 μg/L increase 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.16), and creatine kinase-MB mass (odds ratio per 1 μg/L increase 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 2.04) were associated with cTnT elevation in patients with AIS. In conclusion, elevated cTnT can be frequently detected in patients with AIS. To reliably identify patients with current acute myocardial impairment, more in-depth clinical investigation is needed.