Serum cardiac troponin-T as a prognostic marker in septic shock.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac troponins are markers for myocardial injury. Sepsis and septic shock can cause myocardial injury. The significance of elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in septic shock was evaluated in the present study.


METHODS
Serum levels of cTnT were measured in 40 patients with septic shock from Rajavithi Hospital during a nine-month period between December 2004 and August 2005. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded by clinical presentation, electrocardiography, and measurement of creatine kinase.


RESULTS
The levels of cardiac troponin T were elevated in 17 patients (42.5%) and not elevated in 23 patients (57.5%). There were 28 deaths (70%) and 12 patients (30%) survived and were discharged from the hospital. cTnT-positive patients had a significantly higher mortality rate (I 7 of 17 patients in the cTnT-positive group and 11 of 23 patients in the cTnT-negative group; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated cTnT levels may be a marker for severity of illness and higher mortality in patients with septic shock.
Choon-ngarm
Tanarat
T
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Partpisanu
Pailin
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart; D006331:Heart Diseases; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D013534:Survival; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D020107:Troponin T