Frequency and prognostic value of cardiac troponin I elevation after coronary stenting

Mild myocardial injuries after coronary angioplasty are associated with adverse late outcomes. The incidence and prognostic value of this phenomenon when using cardiac troponin I (cTnI) after stent implantation is unknown. We studied cTnI and creatine kinase (CK) release in 109 patients after stenting. Clinical success was achieved in 103 patients (94%). In-hospital major adverse coronary events were: death in 1 patient, Q-wave myocardial infarction in 1 patient, and non–Q-wave myocardial infarction in 2 patients. Twenty-nine patients (27%) had postprocedural cTnI increase, 16 (15%) had CK elevation. No preprocedural variables predicted marker elevation. Marker release was related to the occurrence of in-lab complications (59% vs 29% [p = 0.004 for cTnI] and 69% vs 32% [p = 0.011 for CK]). In 34% no explanation was found for cTnI increase. Success was more frequent in patients without cTnI elevation (100% vs 86%, p <0.001). The negative predictive value of cTnI increase was 100% for in-hospital major adverse coronary events (MACE), whereas its positive predictive value was 14%. cTnI and CK concordant elevation was associated with more intra- and postprocedural adverse events. During a mean follow-up of 8 ± 3 months, major adverse coronary events were: death in 2 patients, myocardial infarction in 2 patients , and repeat PTCA in 8 patients. cTnI elevation was not predictive of these late MACE. cTnI elevation is common after stenting, and is related to the occurrence of in-lab complications. Its isolated elevation is not a good predictor of MACE. Patients with concordant cTnI and CK elevation seem to be at higher risk of in-hospital MACE.