The prognostic value of serum troponin T in unstable angina pectoris

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Methods: Serum cTnT, creatine kinase (CK) and isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) were simultaneously measured in 20 healthy subjects, 18 stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 60 UAP patients. The diagnosis was based on the WHO criteria, and AMI was ruled out. ELISA was carried out to detect cTnT quantitatively. cTnT≤0.3ng/ml was considered as evidence of myocardial damage. Results: Among 53% of the UAP patients (group B, 32 cases) cTnT levels were increased, while the rest (group A, 28 cases) remained normal (0.75±0.24 vs 0.12±0.04 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.01). cTnT value in the healthy subjects and SAP patients were 0.02±0.06 and 0.03±0.05ng/ml, respectively. No significant difference was found in serum CK and CK-MB among all the groups. Among the 60 UAP patients, the incidences of cardiac events, including AMI, sudden cardiac death and refractory angina pectoris with in 30 days, were significantly higher in group B than in group A (43.8% vs 7.1%, P<0.01). For cardiac events, the sensitivity was 87.5%, negative predictive value was 92.9% by serum cTnT level. Conclusion: The present study indicates that serum cTnT level demonstrates minor myocardial damage (MMD) and could predict the prognosis of patients with unstable angina.