What is Troponin I?
Troponin is a body protein which is found in heart muscle cells & skeletal muscles. They are involved in regulation of muscle contraction. There are said to be three main types of troponin proteins namely Troponin C, Troponin T & Troponin I. These 3 proteins work by in a way that troponin C starts contraction by binding calcium & moves troponin I so that the two proteins which pull the muscle fiber shorter can interact. Then troponin T anchors troponin complex to the muscle fiber structure. Both troponin I & troponin T are known to be cardiac specific.
What is Troponin I (high sensitive) lab test?
As mentioned above, troponin I is cardiac (heart) specific & therefore is known to spill into bloodstream when damage to heart (heart attack) occurs. Troponin I is identified as a biomarker which is detected in increased concentration in blood (greater than normal) when there is heart muscle damage. Hence, greater concentration shows more damage to the heart. This test is mainly used to measure the amount of troponin I released in heart attack, but it may also be used in evaluating other forms of heart injury. This test is called high-sensitivity troponin test because they belong to latest generation of cardiac enzyme (troponin) testing & can detect even smallest of level of troponin.
Why is Troponin I (high sensitive) lab test done?
This test is used for:
- Diagnosing heart attack & ruling out other conditions which may have similar signs & symptoms
- It is known to be most preferred test for suspected heart attack as more specific to heart injury.
- It may also help in diagnosing other heart-related conditions like stable angina, obstructive coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure & cardiomyopathy (thickening of heart muscle).
- Troponin I levels stay elevated for longer periods i.e. for 10 to 14 days & become elevated within 3 to 4 hours after heart injury.
WHAT DOES THE TEST MEASURE?
A troponin test measures the levels of troponin T or troponin I proteins in the blood. These proteins are released when the heart muscle has been damaged, such as occurs with a heart attack. The more damage there is to the heart, the greater the amount of troponin T and I will be in the blood.
- What is meant by troponin level of 1?
This relates to & indicates an increased risk of future heart events like heart attacks. When heart attack takes place, cardiac-specific troponin I & T levels will elevate in blood in about 3 to 4 hours.
- What is Troponin I test?
A troponin test is defined as which measures levels of troponin proteins T or I in blood.
- What is known to be high troponin level?
Mostly the laboratories measure troponin protein in ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). The University of Washington's Department of Laboratory Medicine states ranges: Normal: below 0.04 ng/ml, Probable heart attack: above 0.40 ng/ml
- What are possible treatment options in high troponin levels?
If troponin levels come elevated & EKG (electrocardiogram) indicates acute heart attack, then cardiac interventions are recommended i.e. catheterization with angioplasty & possibly stents. Or an evaluation of CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) surgery may be required.
- What is accuracy of troponin test?
It can detect cardiac troponin I (cTnl) in 96.8% of healthy individuals.
Troponin levels are elevated in blood within 3 to 6 hours of heart injury & stay elevated for at least 10 to 14 days.
INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS:
- “Normal” troponin levels: mostly they are so low that they cannot be found in blood tests. But if results show normal levels even after 12 hours, that indicates that you were not experiencing heart attack
- “Small” levels of troponin: indicate that there is some damage to the heart
- “High” levels of troponin: indicates that you experienced heart attack. Or this can indicate towards other heart conditions as well. The following result is repeated multiple times & then confirmed.
The healthcare provider orders this test if:
- There is a suspicion of heart attack due to chest pain & other symptoms
- You have angina (chest pain) which is getting worse but there are no other signs of heart attack is showing
- Helps to detect & evaluate other causes of heart injury