Interpretation of Cardiac Enzymes in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Seeking Diagnostic Clarity

A markedly raised cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in a patient is always alarming and usually suggests significant myocardial damage, as seen in acute myocardial infarction. There are, however, other circumstances where raised cTnI may be encountered without overt myocardial necrosis. Prior studies have evaluated serum cTnI levels in preeclampsia, eclampsia and normotensive healthy pregnant women in order to define their diagnostic value. Other factors, such as altered renal function, as in preeclampsia, may also affect the serum troponin levels, leading to misdiagnosis and incorrect management. We highlight the diagnostic and management difficulties faced in the management of our patient who presented with raised cTnI following multiple eclamptic fits, without other signs of an acute cardiac event. J Med Cases. 2017;8(7):207-210 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2836w