Serum Cardiac Troponin T Levels as an Indicator of Myocardial Injury in Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke Patients

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Abstract
Many studies in the literature have clearly shown the increase in creatine kinase-myocardial subfraction (CK-MB) levels and changes in electrocardiography (ECG) after stroke. However, the studies on cardiac troponin T (cTnT) which is more sensitive and specific to myocardium after stroke are relatively scarce. Moreover, its associations with volume of stroke lesions and type of stroke have not been investigated thoroughly. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate a predictive value of cTnT in assessing myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction in different types of stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke) and its relationship with stroke size and volume. This study included 62 patients (30 males and 32 females) with acute stroke confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Blood samples were obtained within 24 hours of stroke onset to measure the serum levels of creatin kinase (CK), CK-MB, lactate dehydrogenate (LDH), and cTnT. ECG and echocardiography were performed to assess myocardial function and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Of all patients included in the study, 20 patients (32%) demonstrated elevations in cTnT, while 28 patients (45%) had increased CK-MB levels. Serum levels of cTnT were positively correlated with stroke volume (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001), while inversely correlated with LVEF (r = −0.53, p < 0001). Serum levels of both CK-MB and cTnT were higher in patients with hemorrhagic stroke than those with ischemic stroke but this difference was not significant (p > 0.05). As a conclusion, cTnT has a higher specificity and sensitivity in detecting myocardial injury after stroke of both ischemic and hemorrhagic origins. Measurement of the serum levels of cTnT is of clinical importance in evaluating myocardial injury and provides a useful aid in estimating the volume of stroke lesions.