Cardiac troponin I for the prediction of functional recovery and left ventricular remodelling following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Objective To investigate the ability of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) to predict functional recovery and left ventricular remodelling following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Design Post hoc study extending from randomised controlled trial. Patients 132 patients with STEMI receiving pPCI. Main outcome measures Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic and end-systolic volume index (EDVI and ESVI) and changes in these parameters from day 5 to 4 months after the index event. Methods Cardiac magnetic resonance examination performed at 5 days and 4 months for evaluation of LVEF, EDVI and ESVI. cTnI was sampled at 24 and 48 h. Results In linear regression models adjusted for early (5 days) assessment of LVEF, ESVI and EDVI, single-point cTnI at either 24 or 48 h were independent and strong predictors of changes in LVEF (p<0.01), EDVI (p<0.01) and ESVI (p<0.01) during the follow-up period. In a logistic regression analysis for prediction of an LVEF below 40% at 4 months, single-point cTnI significantly improved the prognostic strength of the model (area under the curve = 0.94, p<0.01) in comparison with the combination of clinical variables and LVEF at 5 days. Conclusion Single-point sampling of cTnI after pPCI for STEMI provides important prognostic information on the time-dependent evolution of left ventricular function and volumes.