High Sensitivity Troponin I

Troponin is a protein, which is specifically found in the muscles, that helps in the contraction of the heart and other body muscles.

Troponin I is detectable in blood only when the heart muscle gets damaged. Troponin I is released into the bloodstream during a heart injury. Increased levels of troponin I in the blood indicate that the person is at risk of having or has already recently had a heart attack. This High-Sensitivity Troponin I test helps in detecting low levels of Troponin I in blood.

Troponin levels can take a few hours to rise after the onset of a heart attack. Testing immediately after an attack can result in false-negative results since the troponin levels may go undetectable. So your health care professional may prescribe the test two or more times in 24 hours to detect rising values in the troponin levels.

Symptoms of heart attack are chest pain, breathing difficulties (shortness of breath), lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and pain referring to other parts of the body like the arm, mostly the left arm, back, neck and jaw. High sensitivity Troponin I test is an important diagnostic tool and helps in quick decision-making for the clinician.

High sensitivity Troponin I test is also used to detect other heart-related conditions like cardiomyopathy (a disorder of heart muscle that makes it difficult to pump blood), angina (chest pain due to decreased blood flow), coronary artery disease(damage or disease in heart’s major blood vessels) and congestive heart failure (the heart does not pump enough to meet adequate body needs).

 Value may differ from lab to lab

Troponin I levels can go higher in patients with other conditions affecting cardiac muscles.

There may be a minimal difference in normal values between males and females, but the range remains constant.

The main aim of the High sensitivity Troponin I test is to determine the Troponin I levels in the blood. The interpretation of this test depends on current symptoms and overall health conditions. Troponin level gets elevated after 3-6 hours of initiation of heart damage.

Increased cardiac troponin I levels can be seen in conditions like increased heartbeat, increased blood pressure in the lungs, trauma, inflammation in heart muscle, and heart failure conditions. Also, cardiac troponin levels get elevated after surgical procedures like angioplasty, heart defibrillation, and open heart surgeries. If low or normal levels of troponin are found in the blood, it may indicate that the person has no risk of a heart attack.

An increase in cardiac Troponin I levels in the blood indicates cardiac muscle damage that leads to improper functioning of the heart. Your doctor may suggest other tests such as ECG (electrocardiogram), heart and lungs imaging, and complete blood count for a better initial clinical assessment.

Acute Myocardial Infarction( heart attacks), Coronary artery disease(damage or disease in the heart’s major blood vessels), Cardiomyopathy (disease of heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood out), Congestive heart failure (the heart does not pump enough to meet adequate body needs), Angina (chest Pain)