Anesthesia & Clinical Research
Open Access

Abstract

Troponin Elevation in Critically Ill Patients

Adib Moussa, John Haddad, Michael Okumura and Yasser Al-Baghdadi

A common problem in the intensive care unit is interpreting elevated cardiac biomarkers in patients hospitalized for serious non-cardiac diseases. The following case example demonstrates the importance of the clinical context when interpreting the cardiac biomarkers in critically ill patients. Elevated cTn in critically ill patient should be investigated thoroughly and distinction between Type1 myocardial infarction from Type 2 is established. There are numerous causes of troponin release due to myocardial damage, while some are related to myocardial ischemia others are not. Discrimination of Type 2 MI from Type 1 MI and troponin release due to non-coronary diseases is challenging. However, discrimination is paramount in order to provide timely and appropriate treatment.