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Troponin I in the intensive care unit setting: from the heart to the heart

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Abstract

When measured in the plasma, cardiac troponins T (cTnT) and I (cTnI) are considered to be highly specific markers of myocardial cell damage; however, research has demonstrated that troponin elevation may associated with causes other than coronary artery disease. In the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, increased cTnI levels are quite common findings and when documented, even on admission, intensivists should bear in mind that this laboratory finding holds a prognostic role independent of the reason for ICU admission. The mechanism(s) (such as demand ischemia, myocardial strain, etc.) and not simply the cause (i.e., renal failure) of the increment in serum cTnI should be investigated to better tailor the therapeutical regimen in the single patient. In this review, we therefore consider the nonthrombotic causes of troponin elevation in the critical setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Intensive Cardiac Care Unit, Heart and Vessel Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Chiara Lazzeri & Gian Franco Gensini

  2. Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy

    Manuela Bonizzoli, Giovanni Cianchi & Adriano Peris

  3. Rianimazione-DEA, Viale Morgagni 85, Florence, Italy

    Adriano Peris

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  1. Chiara Lazzeri
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  2. Manuela Bonizzoli
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  3. Giovanni Cianchi
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  4. Gian Franco Gensini
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  5. Adriano Peris
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Correspondence to Adriano Peris.

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Lazzeri, C., Bonizzoli, M., Cianchi, G. et al. Troponin I in the intensive care unit setting: from the heart to the heart. Intern Emerg Med 3, 9–16 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-008-0089-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-008-0089-3

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