Troponin

How it is used

Most hospitals use high-sensitivity troponin and take two samples a few hours apart to look for a rise. Doctors say troponin is 'raised', 'negative' or 'rising'. A raised troponin is not specific: sepsis, PE and kidney disease can also increase it.

Example sentences

1. Her first troponin is normal; we'll repeat it in three hours.

2. A rising troponin with ST changes on the ECG is consistent with a myocardial infarction.

Common collocations

• raised troponin
• high-sensitivity troponin
• serial troponins
• repeat troponin

Related terms

• myocardial infarctionDeath of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is suddenly blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery; the medical name for a heart attack.
• chest painPain or discomfort felt in the chest; it can come from the heart, lungs, food pipe, muscles or ribs, so it is always taken seriously.
• ECGShort for electrocardiogram: a test that records the heart's electrical activity using small sticky pads placed on the chest, arms and legs.
• blood testA laboratory check of a blood sample, taken from a vein or a fingertip, to measure things like blood cells, sugar, salts or markers of infection.

More terms: Diagnosis and Tests

• diagnosis
• rule out
• X-ray
• CT scan
• differential diagnosis
• prognosis
• investigation
• complete blood count
• ultrasound
• MRI
• biopsy
• blood glucose