CARDIAC TROPONIN-I (CTN-I) AND THE POSTMORTEM DIAGNOSIS OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

In clinical practice several biochemical markers are used for the diag nosis of myocardial infarction. Because of its extremely high specific ity for myocardial damage, cardiac troponin I(cTn I) is frequently use d. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of po stmortem cTn I determinations in pericardial fluid and serum and to co mpare these results with other biochemical markers and with structural findings used to diagnose acute myocardial ischaemia. We studied 89 c adavers with a mean age of 51.38 +/- 2.04 (SD 19.27 years). Cases were allocated to 1 of 4 diagnostic groups depending on the probable inten sity of myocardial damage and cause of death. In pericardial fluid we obtained statistically significant differences for the four biochemica l parameters, while in serum myosin heavy chains and myoglobin showed statistically significant differences. The highest levels of biochemic al markers in pericardial fluid were observed in subjects who had died from definite myocardial infarction.