High-sensitive Troponin I in acute cardiac conditions: Implications of baseline and sequential measurements for diagnosis of myocardial infarction

► Baseline and sequential hsTnI was assessed in patients with acute cardiac condition and catheterization. ► hsTnI is a sensitive, albeit unspecific marker of myocardial infarction. ► Relevant elevations of hsTnI also occur in patients with non-ischemic cardiac disease. ► Serial assessment and higher cutpoints increase sensitivity/specificity of hsTnI for NSTEMI. ► A clinical algorithm and concentration intervals for hsTnI are proposed which improve predictive values of hsTnI.