Elevated cardiac troponin I in sepsis and septic shock: no evidence for thrombus associated myocardial necrosis.
BACKGROUND
Elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is frequently observed in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. However, the mechanisms underlying cTnI release in these patients are still unknown. To date no data regarding coagulation disturbances as a possible mechanism for cTnI release during sepsis are available.


RESULTS
Consecutive patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis or septic shock without evidence of an acute coronary syndrome were analyzed. Coagulation parameters (clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness (MCF), alpha-angle) were assessed in native whole blood samples, and using specific activators to evaluate the extrinsic and intrinsic as well as the fibrin component of the coagulation pathway with the use of rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM). Thirty-eight patients were included and 22 (58%) were cTnI-positive. Baseline characteristics between TnI-positive and -negative patients were similar. The CT, CFT, MCF and the alpha-angle were similar between the groups with trends towards shorter CT in the extrinsic and fibrin activation.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no differences in coagulation parameters analyzed with rotational thrombelastometry between cTnI-positive and -negative patients with SIRS, severe sepsis, and septic shock. These findings suggest that pathophysiological mechanisms other than thrombus-associated myocardial damage might play a major role, including reversible myocardial membrane leakage and/or cytokine mediated apoptosis in these patients.
Altmann
David R
DR
Division of Cardiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Korte
Wolfgang
W
Maeder
Micha T
MT
Fehr
Thomas
T
Haager
Philipp
P
Rickli
Hans
H
Kleger
Gian-Reto
GR
Rodriguez
Regulo
R
Ammann
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D013916:Thrombelastography; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
D019210:Troponin I