Elevation of troponin I in sepsis and septic shock.
OBJECTIVE
To detect myocardial damage in severe systemic inflammation by cTnI measurements in patients without acute coronary syndromes.


METHODS
Prospective case control study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Twenty patients with sepsis, septic shock, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were examined and compared to controls without coronary artery disease or myocarditis.


RESULTS
cTnI levels were assessed in patients with SIRS, sepsis, and septic shock. Eight patients (two female/six male) suffered from septic shock, nine (three female/six male) from sepsis without shock, and three (three male) from SIRS. Seventeen patients (85%) showed elevated cTnI (median 0.57 microg/l; 0.17-15.4), whereas no patient in the control group showed elevated cTnI (P < 0.0001). Six patients (30%),--three with septic shock and three with sepsis--died during hospitalization, five of them with elevated cTnI. Four out of five autopsies showed normal coronary arteries. Coronary angiography, autopsy, and stress echocardiography ruled out significant coronary artery disease in ten cTnI-positive patients (59%). In 41 % of cTnI-positive patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae could be cultured, whereas no cTnI-negative or control patient showed signs of infection due to S. pneumoniae.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac troponin I was elevated in 85% of patients with sepsis, septic shock or SIRS in our study. A high percentage showed infection caused by S. pneumoniae. In what way microorganisms cause cTnI elevations is not yet understood.
Ammann
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine, Zurich, Switzerland. pammann@swissonline.ch
Fehr
T
T
Minder
E I
EI
Günter
C
C
Bertel
O
O
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D019210:Troponin I