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Prospective study of the role of cardiac troponin T in patients admitted with unstable angina

BMJ 1996; 313 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.313.7052.262 (Published 03 August 1996) Cite this as: BMJ 1996;313:262
  1. Peter Stubbs, lecturer in cardiovascular medicinea,
  2. Paul Collinson, consultant chemical pathologistb,
  3. David Moseley, senior medical laboratory scientific officerc,
  4. Trevor Greenwood, consultant physicianc,
  5. Mark Noble, Garfield Weston professor of cardiovascular medicinea
  1. a Academic Unit of Cardiovascular Medicine, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Fifth Floor, South Wing, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF
  2. b Mayday University Hospital, London CR7 7YE
  3. c West Middlesex University Hospital, London TW7 6AF
  1. Correspondence to: Dr Stubbs.
  • Accepted 16 May 1996

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prognostic significance and role in risk stratification of the biochemical marker troponin T in patients admitted with unstable angina.

Design: Single centre, blinded, prospective study of patients admitted with chest pain.

Setting: Coronary care unit of a district general hospital.

Subjects: 460 patients admitted with chest pain and followed up for a median of three years. 183 patients had a final diagnosis of unstable angina.

Main outcome measures: Cardiac death, need for coronary revascularisation, or readmission with non-fatal myocardial infarction as first events.

Results: 62 (34%) unstable angina patients were troponin T positive. This group had significantly increased incidence rates of subsequent cardiac death (12 cases (19%) v 14 (12%)), coronary revascularisation (22 (35%) v 26 (21%)), death or revascularisation (33 (53%) v 40 (33%)), and death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (18 (29%) v 21 (17%)) compared with the troponin T negative group. In multiple logistic regression troponin T status was a highly significant predictor for the end points coronary revascularisation and cardiac death or revascularisation as first events.

Conclusion: Troponin T in the serum of patients with unstable angina identifies a subgroup at higher risk of subsequent cardiac events and its measurement aids in risk factor stratification. The increased risk extends to two years after admission. Prospective randomised trials are required to identify optimum therapeutic strategies for this subgroup.

Key messages

  • Stratifying patients with unstable angina for risk remains a difficult clinical problem

  • A new cardiac specific protein, troponin T, can now be measured in serum

  • The detection of troponin T 12-24 hours after admission identifies a high risk subgroup of patients with unstable angina

  • Prospective trials are required to identify optimum therapeutic strategies for this subgroup

Footnotes

  • Funding None.

  • Conflict of interest None.

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