Detection of myocardial ischaemia after balloon angioplasty with a cardiactroponin I rapid bedside assay

Cardiac troponins (troponin I and troponin T) are known to be highly sensit ive parameters for the detection of myocardial injury, Coronary side branch occlusions after balloon angioplasty (PTCA) lead to a reduction of myocard ial perfusion documented by angiography, This PTCA complication may be conf irmed by various blood tests, Early diagnosis of myocardial ischemia should contribute to a better risk stratification of the patient after PTCA. We t herefore compared a newly developed cardiac troponin I rapid bed side assay with quantitative troponin T, creatin kinase and creatine kinase MB in 20 patients after PTCA (8 with side branch occlusion), We could demonstrate th at the cardiac troponin I rapid bed side assay is a reliable test to detect early myocardial damage after PTCA related coronary side branch occlusion, These results were found in clinically symptomless patients as well as in patients with clinical, electrocardiographic and biochemical signs of myoca rdial infarction.