Background: The troponin T (cTnT) is frequently elevated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. However, the relationship, if any, between the cTnT level and brain infarction remains to be established. The aim was to investigate the possible correlation between the location and volume of brain infarction and the cardiac cTnT serum level in AIS patients.
Methods: The study consisted of consecutive AIS patients admitted within 12h of stroke onset. The location and volume of the acute ischemic lesion was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging. Standard laboratory tests, including cTnT and repeated electrocardiograms, were performed at admission and after 4h. Correlations between the cTnT level and the location and volume of brain infarction and baseline parameters were tested with a Spearman correlation coefficient. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis (LRA) were used to determine the possible predictors of cTnT elevation.
Results: Out of the 200 enrolled patients, elevated cTnT was present in 71 (36%). No correlation was found between the cTnT serum levels and the location (P>0.05) nor volume of brain infarction (r=0.05, P=0.48). LRA identified creatinine (OR: 1.26 per 10μmol/L increase; 95% CI: 1.043-1.524), NT-proBNP (OR: 1.05 per 100μg/L increase; 95% CI: 1.018-1.093) and male gender (OR: 3.674; 95% CI: 1.025-13.164) as significant independent predictors of pathological elevation of cTnT.
Conclusions: Although elevated cTnT serum level is relatively frequent in AIS patients within the first 12h of stroke onset, it is not related to the location or volume of brain infarction.
Clinical trial registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT01541163).
Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Brain infarction; Cardiac troponin T; Magnetic resonance imaging; Myocardial injury.
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