title: [Heterophilic antibodies: be carefull!].
abstract: The determination of plasma level of cardiac troponin I or T is recommended by the French Health Authority to diagnose myocardial infarction. However false positive results associated with the presence of heterophilic antibodies are described in the literature. This interference can lead to unnecessary invasive procedures, sometimes even dangerous. We report the case of a patient with falsely elevated troponin Ic concentration due to these antibodies. This case is characterized by the intensity of the abnormalities, the diversity of biological parameters affected and the discrepancies between biology and clinic. This case report confirms that modern immunoassays are always affected by heterophilic antibodies. We present here an example of such interference.
authors.affiliation: Service de biochimie, toxicologie et pharmacologie cliniques, Hôpital d'instruction des armées Percy, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sanmartin
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bugier
authors.forename: Jean Valère
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Malfuson
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chianea
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renard
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vest
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000097:blood*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000097:blood; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D009211:Myoglobin; D019210:Troponin I; D003402:Creatine Kinase
keywords: cardiac troponin; heterophilic antibodies; immunoassay