Use of cardiac troponin T rapid assay in the diagnosis of a myocardial injury secondary to electrical cardioversion.
OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out to determine whether cardiac troponin T test in rapid assay gives positive results in patients previously submitted to cardioversion or electrical defibrillation.


METHODS
Forty patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias lasting no more than 2 days were treated with electrical cardioversion. The total creatine phosphokinase (CPK)-MB isoenzyme and troponin T in rapid assay were measured at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 h thereafter.


RESULTS
Total CPK baseline levels were normal in all cases; within 4 h, the serum CPK levels increased by 98%, at 6 h by 111.5%, at 12 h by 168%, and at 24 h by 225% (p > 0.01). The CPK-MB isoenzyme showed no percentage increase of total CPK higher than 5%, measured at 6, 12, and 24 h after the shock, independent of the number of attempts of cardioversion. The troponin T test was also negative in all cases at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 h after cardioversion.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the absence of elevations in CPK-MB levels and cardiac troponin T levels matched clinical and electrocardiographic results showing absence of myocardial damage after electrical cardioversion.
Garré
L
L
Coronary Care Unit, Hospital Naval Pedro Mallo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Alvarez
A
A
Rubio
M
M
Pellegrini
A
A
Caridi
M
M
Berardi
A
A
Lázzaro
C
C
Blanco
P
P
Menehem
C
C
Díaz
M
M
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000032:analysis; D004452:Echocardiography; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D014336:Troponin / Q000032:analysis*; D020107:Troponin T
D015415:Biomarkers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D014336:Troponin; D020107:Troponin T; D003402:Creatine Kinase