The Prognostic Value of Serum Troponin T in Unstable Angina

UNSTABLE angina is a critical phase of ischemic heart disease associated with a high risk of myocardial infarction and sudden death. 1 Postmortem studies reveal that these fatal events are frequently preceded by microinfarcts. 2 , 3 They are the result of the fissuring of atheromatous plaques with subsequent activation of platelets, 4 5 6 thrombus formation, 7 8 9 10 11 12 and episodic embolization. 2 , 3 Increased creatine kinase activity is found, however, in only a small percentage of patients with unstable angina. 13 After the loss of integrity of myocardial-cell membranes in severe ischemia, proteins of the cardiac contractile apparatus, such as the regulatory contractile protein troponin T, are released into the circulation. . . .