Electrocardiographic Changes and False-Positive Troponin I in a Patient with Acute Cholecystitis

Cardiac troponins are the most sensitive and specific serum markers of myocardial cell injury, but they can also arise without apparent cardiac injury. Besides, acute cholecystitis may be associated with nonspecific ST-T wave changes in electrocardiography (ECG). The signs and symptoms of gallbladder and heart disease may overlap, which can make diagnosis difficult. We describe the case of a 75-year-old woman with clinical features suggestive of acute cholecystitis associated with transient ST segment elevation and elevated troponin I that, after extensive workup, did not seem to be attributable to myocardial ischemia or any other acute cardiac problem, but were exclusively related to cholecystitis. We show that cholecystitis with gallbladder distension can be the sole cause of pathological ECG changes and an increased troponin I level; this should be considered when evaluating patients with similar presentations.