title: Prognostic effect of cardiac troponin elevation in acute aortic dissection: A meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a highly lethal medical emergency that requires immediate assessment and therapy. To date, no one biomarker plays a significant role in risk stratification of patients with AAD and whether cardiac troponin could be a prognostic marker of in-hospital mortality is still unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To assess the prognostic role of cardiac troponin elevation during AAD, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Four studies were included in the final analysis. Elevated cardiac troponin was present in 26.8% of patients with AAD and ranged between 23% and 33%. We showed that elevated troponin levels were significantly associated with increased risk of short-term mortality (OR 2.57; 95% CI 1.66-3.96). The analysis of pooled studies showed a low heterogeneity (I(2) 34.3%), and no publication bias was detected (Egger bias 3.34, p=0.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac troponin elevation at the time of admission for AAD is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Vascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, Sisters of Charity University Hospital Center, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: mislav.vrsalovic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mislav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrsalovic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019209:Troponin C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019209:Troponin C
keywords: Aortic dissection; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Troponin