Frequency and clinical implications of discordant creatine kinase-MB and troponin measurements in acute coronary syndromes JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY Newby, L. K., Roe, M. T., Chen, A. Y., Ohman, E. M., Christenson, R. H., Pollack, C. V., Hoekstra, J. W., Peacock, W. F., Harrington, R. A., Jesse, R. L., Gibler, W. B., Peterson, E. D. 2006; 47 (2): 312-318

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the association between discordant cardiac marker results and in-hospital mortality and treatment patterns in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS).Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponins (cTn) are often measured concurrently in patients with NSTE ACS. The significance of discordant CK-MB and cTn results is unknown.Among 29,357 ACS patients in the CRUSADE initiative who had both CK-MB and cTn measured during the first 36 hours, we examined relationships of four marker combinations (CK-MB-/cTn-, CK-MB+/cTn-, CK-MB-/cTn+, and CK-MB+/cTn+) with mortality and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines-recommended acute care.The CK-MB and cTn results were discordant in 28% of patients (CK-MB+/cTn-, 10%; CK-MB-/cTn+, 18%). In-hospital mortality was 2.7% among CK-MB-/cTn- patients; 3.0%, CK-MB+/cTn-; 4.5%, CK-MB-/cTn+; and 5.9%, CK-MB+/cTn+. After adjustment for other presenting risk factors, patients with CK-MB+/cTn- had a mortality odds ratio (OR) of 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75 to 1.38), those with CK-MB-/cTn+ had an OR of 1.15 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.54), and those with CK-MB+/cTn+ had an OR of 1.53 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.98). Despite variable risk, patients with CK-MB+/cTn- and CK-MB-/cTn+ were treated similarly with early antithrombotic agents and catheter-based interventions.Among patients with NSTE ACS, an elevated troponin level identifies patients at increased acute risk regardless of CK-MB status, but an isolated CK-MB+ status has limited prognostic value. Recognition of these risk differences may contribute to more appropriate early use of antithrombotic therapy and invasive management for all cTn+ patients.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.08.062

View details for Web of Science ID 000234667100007

View details for PubMedID 16412853