Prognostic Value of Troponin T after Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a sensitive and specificmarker of myocardial necrosis. Prognostic significance of isolated minorelevations of cTnT is a matter of debate .The aim of this study was to assessthe impact of minor elevations of cTnT on major adverse cardiac events (MACE)following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: We measured cTnT levels before and after PCI and evaluated theoutcomes of 112 patients with normal baseline cTnT and complex coronary arterydisease who required nonemergency PCI.Results: Elevations (more than 0.03ng/ml) in cTnT were seen in 39patients (34.8%).The angiographic characteristics of patients with increasedcTnT levels had borderline differences compared to those with normal post PCIcTnT levels. Over a mean follow-up duration of 22 months, myocardial infarction(p<0.01) and the combined rate of death, myocardial infarction andrevascularization (p<0.001) were significantly higher in patients with increasedlevels of post PCI cTnT. Estimated 22-month MACE-free survival for patients withincreased and normal cTnT levels were 93.2% and 66.7%, respectivelyConclusions: Isolated minor elevations in cTnT after elective PCI incomplex coronary lesions affect long-term prognosis regarding death, myocardialinfarction and the need for repeated revascularization procedures.