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Troponin levels can predict heart attacks and strokes
An international research team has found that even a slight increase in the protein troponin is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The new findings could improve the prediction of heart attack and stroke.
Quick action can save lives
Every year around 300,000 people in Germany suffer a heart attack. In acute cases, rapid action is needed. Timely heart attack diagnosis saves lives. Clinical routine in the diagnosis of heart attacks has included the measurement of troponin levels for many years. One study has now shown that in healthy individuals, slight increases in troponin are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, the protein complex plays a special role in the prediction of myocardial infarction and stroke.
One study found that in healthy individuals, slight increases in troponin are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The new findings could improve the prediction of heart attack and stroke. (Image: hriana / fotolia.com) Increased cardiovascular risk with increase in troponin level
Given that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in western industrialized countries, the most accurate prediction of cardiovascular events is particularly important.
The biomarker troponin plays an important role here. He has a high prognostic significance in coronary heart disease (CHD), scientists reported at the annual meeting of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) a few months ago.
The results of the meta-study of the epidemiologist Peter Willeit from the Innsbruck University Clinic for Neurology could contribute significantly to prognosis and targeted prevention, according to a statement of the Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria).
Even a slight increase in the troponin level in the blood of healthy persons (even within the "normal range") is therefore associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Correlation demonstrably confirmed
Data from the PROSPER study (pravastatin in the Elderly Individuals at Risk of Vascular Disease Study) were combined and analyzed with data from a total of 154,052 subjects from 27 other studies spanning an observation period of 11.9 years.
The correlation between increased troponin level and a later cardiovascular event was confirmed independently of other risk parameters.
Willeit carried out the study together with the Innsbruck neurologist Stefan Kiechl and PhD student Lena Tschiderer as well as other colleagues in Great Britain, Holland and Ireland.
The results of the study were recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Standard in the diagnosis of heart attack
The cardiac troponin identified in the 1960s is formed in the heart muscle cells and released into the blood in the event of damage, for example by myocardial infarction.
The measurement of the troponin level is regarded as the gold standard of infarction diagnostics and is also used as an indicator of the extent of cardiac muscle damage.
The development of more and more sensitive measurement methods now enables the reliable detection of troponin levels in very low concentrations.
"With these new assays, troponin levels are now measurable and representable to the majority of the general population. We therefore took a closer look at its role as a marker for cardiac stress or increased cardiac stress, "says Willeit.
Targeted prognosis and therapy adjustment
"In that third of the subjects in whom the troponin level was highest, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease was 43 percent higher," the study author explained.
"Our data indicate an increased risk not only for the development of a heart attack, but also for the occurrence of a stroke," says Willeit.
The strongly confirmed correlation between moderately elevated troponin levels in seemingly healthy volunteers and the onset of cardiovascular disease could be of great value for a better prognosis and targeted prevention in the future. (Ad)