Diagnostic level of cardiac troponin T in patients with chronic renal dysfunction, a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To find the diagnostic level and rising pattern of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with chronic renal dysfunction presented with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Material and Method: A pilot, cross-sectional study to compare the level of cTnT in adult patients with chronic renal dysfunction who were admitted and later confirmed to have AMI with those in the age and sex-matched controls with chronic renal dysfunction and non-coronary diagnosis. Results: Twenty-three patients were enrolled into each group. The mean cTnT levels in the AMI group were significantly higher than in the control group. Magnitude and rate of post-admission rise of cTnT were not significantly different between both groups. The diagnostic level of cTnT for AMI was 0.1 nanogram per milliliter with 90.90% sensitivity and 84.50% specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of this diagnostic level were 91.30% and 100.00% respectively when patients with chronic renal replacement were excluded. Conclusion: The level of cTnT of at least 0.1 nanogram per milliliter within the first 24 hours of admission was diagnostic for AMI in patients with chronic renal dysfunction. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were better if the patients with chronic renal replacement were excluded.