Abstract 9789: Transient Elevation of Highly Sensitive Troponin T Levels in Patients With Documented Coronary Artery Disease Following Stress Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Introduction: Cardiac troponins are the preferred biomarkers of myocardial injury. More sensitive assays led to the detection of circulating troponins not only in myocardial infarction, but also in apparently healthy subjects after prolonged exercise. Hypothesis: In the era of highly sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) tests we assesed the hypothesis that brief but intense exercise during diagnostic tests might cause elevated troponin levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Seventy-two patients (71% male, age 64±10 years) with documented CAD, LVEF >45%, normal renal function and normal baseline hs-TnT levels (<14 ng/l) underwent myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI, Tc-99m sestamibi) using bicycle stress test (n=19) or adenosine stimulation (n=55). Hs-TnT levels were detected immediately before and immediately after stress, and again after 4 hours and 24 hours. The extent of stress-induced myocardial ischemia was estimated from perfusion scores derived from single-photon emission com...