Cardiology Teaching Package
A Beginners Guide to Normal Heart Function, Sinus Rhythm & Common Cardiac Arrhythmias
Troponin
Troponin had three big advantages over Creatine Kinase:
- It was much more specific for myocardial damage, as it was possible to differentiate between cardiac and non-cardiac troponin,
- It could be used to implement treatment during an infarct, not just be used for ultimate diagnosis,
- It could detect as little as 1gram of necrotic myocardium.
So, in 2001, based on almost universal recognition of Troponin's superior diagnostic and prognostic strengths, the Joint European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) Committee for the Redefinition of Myocardial Infarction established new guidelines.
Explanatory note
There are 3 types of Troponin: C; I, and T. Troponin C is non-cardiac so not used. Different Health Authorities and/or Trusts have chosen to use Troponin I or Troponin T for different reasons. Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust currently uses Troponin T, often abbreviated to "Trop T", less often "TT".
