Cardiac troponin T and CRP: long-term mortality

Lindahl B. et al followed up 917 patients who presented initially with unstable coronary artery disease. The mean follow up was period was 37 months. Levels of CRP, fibrinogen and maximal cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were measured during the first 24 hours.

Results showed:

• 1.2% cardiac deaths for cTnT levels < 0.06 ug/l
• 8.7% cardiac deaths for 0.06 ug/l < cTnT < 0.59 ug/l
• 15.4% cardiac deaths for cTnT > 0.60 ug/l
  
  
• 5.7% cardiac deaths for CRP <2mg/l
• 7.8% cardiac deaths for 2mg/l < CRP < 10mg/l
• 16.5% cardiac deaths for CRP > 10mg/l

Cardiac troponin T and CRP were found to be independent risk factors for death from a cardiac cause and their effects were shown to be additive.

Reference:

• Lindahl B. et al. Markers of myocardial damage and inflammation inrelation to long-term mortality in unstable coronary artery disease. NEJM 2000;343(16):1139-1147.