Troponin T Predicts Cardioembolic Aetiology and Clinical Outcome in Undetermined Ischaemic Stroke in Hyperacute Phase.

BACKGROUND

Elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels have been related to clinical outcome in stroke patients. However, the role of hs-cTnT and its potential as a biomarker in ischaemic stroke (IS) has not been well established. This study aims to determine whether basal hs-cTnT determination in the hyperacute phase of undetermined IS and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) can predict the cardioembolic aetiology and clinical outcome.

METHODS

We prospectively studied 110 consecutive patients with undetermined acute IS and TIA. hs-cTnT levels were determined at hospital arrival. Large vessel stenosis/occlusion and previously known aetiologies at admission were exclusion criteria for this study. All patients were subjected to a complete aetiological evaluation. A 12-month follow-up was performed in all patients. The subtype of IS was evaluated following the SSS-TOAST criteria. We established two groups at admission: cardioembolic aetiology (group A) and noncardioembolic aetiologies (group B).

RESULTS

The number of patients in each group was similar (group A: 52, 47.27%; group B, 58, 52.73%). Patients in group A had elevated hs-cTnT more frequently (61.54% versus 17.24%; P < .001). Group A patients had significantly higher mortality at 3 months (14.29% versus 1.82%, P = .025). In the multivariate analysis, elevated hs-cTnT was the only independent predictor of cardioembolic aetiology (odds ratio: 14.821; 95% confidence interval: 3.717-59.102, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Baseline hs-cTnT assessment in undetermined strokes and TIA during the hyperacute phase is independently associated with cardioembolic aetiology.