Diagnostic algorithms for acute coronary syndrome-is one better than another?

Abstract

The rather short history of diagnostic algorithms for investigating patients with a suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has led to a constantly evolving and unquestionably chaotic scenario. Although the recent development and introduction of high-sensitivity immunoassays for the measurement of cardiac troponins has represented a paradigm shift for dispersing part of the overwhelming fog, many uncertainties remain, especially concerning the appropriate timing for serial testing and the interpretation of cardiac troponin variations over time. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the available evidence about diagnostic algorithms for ACS which incorporate the measurement of cardiac troponins, and generate a final algorithm attempting to integrate and harmonize the many clinical and laboratory findings emerged from the recent scientific literature.