Timing of troponin T measurements in triage of pulmonary embolism patients

AIM: To determine the appropriate timing of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) measurement for the early triage of pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. METHODS: In this single-center prospective study, PE was confirmed in all patients using computed tomography. 104 consecutive patients were divided into three groups (high-risk, intermediate, and low-risk) based on their hemodynamic status and echocardiographic signs of right ventricular dysfunction. cTnT levels were measured on admission and then after 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours with threshold values greater than 0.1 ng/mL. RESULTS: Intermediate-risk PE patients had higher cTnT levels than low-risk patients already in the first measurement (P = 0.037). Elevated cTnT levels significantly correlated with disease severity after 6 hours (intermediate vs low risk patients, P = 0.016, all three groups, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: In hemodynamically stable patients, increased cTnT level on admission differentiated intermediate from low-risk patients and could be used as an important element for the appropriate triage of patients.