Persistently Increased Serum Concentrations of Cardiac Troponin T in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Are Predictive of Adverse Outcomes

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Abstract
Background —The measurement of serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T (TnT) is a simple, useful method to detect myocyte injury that may be repeated multiple times to follow patients without interobserver variability. Methods and Results —Multiple measurements of TnT with a second-generation assay were performed in 60 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy confirmed by coronary angiography and endomyocardial biopsy between April 1996 and December 1999. Three evolutionary patterns of TnT concentrations were identified. Thirty-three patients had concentrations of TnT P P P P P Conclusions —Persistently increased TnT concentrations in dilated cardiomyopathy suggest ongoing subclinical myocyte degeneration associated with deterioration of the patients’ clinical status.