Troponin T: Correlation with location and volume of acute brain infarction

- Correlation between brain infarction and cardiac troponin T level was investigated.
- The location and volume of the brain infarction were assessed with magnetic resonance.
- No correlation was found between troponin T levels brain infarction (r = 0.05, P = 0.48).
- Creatinine, NT-proBNP and male gender are predictors of cardiac troponin T elevation.
- Troponin T serum level is not related to the location or volume of brain infarction.

BackgroundThe troponin T (cTnT) is frequently elevated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. However, the relationship, if any, between the cTnT level and brain infarction remains to be established. The aim was to investigate the possible correlation between the location and volume of brain infarction and the cardiac cTnT serum level in AIS patients.MethodsThe study consisted of consecutive AIS patients admitted within 12 h of stroke onset. The location and volume of the acute ischemic lesion was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging. Standard laboratory tests, including cTnT and repeated electrocardiograms, were performed at admission and after 4 h. Correlations between the cTnT level and the location and volume of brain infarction and baseline parameters were tested with a Spearman correlation coefficient. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis (LRA) were used to determine the possible predictors of cTnT elevation.ResultsOut of the 200 enrolled patients, elevated cTnT was present in 71 (36%). No correlation was found between the cTnT serum levels and the location (P > 0.05) nor volume of brain infarction (r = 0.05, P = 0.48). LRA identified creatinine (OR: 1.26 per 10 μmol/L increase; 95% CI: 1.043-1.524), NT-proBNP (OR: 1.05 per 100 μg/L increase; 95% CI: 1.018-1.093) and male gender (OR: 3.674; 95% CI: 1.025-13.164) as significant independent predictors of pathological elevation of cTnT.ConclusionsAlthough elevated cTnT serum level is relatively frequent in AIS patients within the first 12 h of stroke onset, it is not related to the location or volume of brain infarction.Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT01541163).