Abstract
Cardiac troponins, cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), are the biochemical cornerstones in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction without characteristic changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). The recent introduction of the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays was at the basis of the increasingly accurate and rapid clinical decision making in patients with acute chest pain.
Nevertheless, the increased sensitivity of the recent assays has not only expedited diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, but also resulted in the detection of, previously undetectable, low cardiac troponin concentrations in subjects without acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this thesis is to increase our understanding of basal cardiac troponin levels in non-acute conditions, their impact on the diagnostics of acute myocardial infarction, and how these aspects can be used to improve the interpretation of cardiac troponins levels.
Defence date: 19/01/18
Gupta Strategists
