Elevated cardiac troponin (cTnI) levels correlate with the clinical and echocardiographic evidences of severe myocarditis in scorpion sting envenomation

Abstract

Objective: This study was to evaluate the predictive value of the cardiac troponins in scorpion sting myocarditis at a tertiary care hospital in Raichur, (Karnataka state) India. Methods: A total of 84 consecutive patients were prospectively studied. The data included the demographics, the time of presentation to the hospital, the clinical features, the cardiac troponin levels and the echocardiographic findings. Results: 12 patients with only local symptoms had troponin levels of less than 0.01μg/L. 12 patients with local and systemic symptoms without an echocardiac evidence of myocarditis had troponin values of 0.01 to 0.11 μg/L. 60 patients with an echocardiographic evidence of myocarditis had troponin levels of above 0.11 μg/L. 6 patients with severe myocarditis who required ventilator support or which led to death had troponin values which were higher than 10 μg/L. Conclusions: High cardiac troponin levels predict myocarditis in scorpion sting envenomation and they can be a useful tool in guiding the therapy early.