Dear all
I would welcome your views on timing of samples for a
single TnI measurement for the assessment of acute
coronary syndrome. Most laboratories have adopted 12 h
post admission whether they measure TnI or TnT. If we
are aiming at measuring peak troponin levels, which
correlate better with infarct size and prognosis, then
this timing may not always hit the peak level. From my
limited experience of measuring TnI in acute MI
patients admitted to our CCU, it is usually cardiac
enzyme 2 or 3 which show the peak TnI level coinciding
with peak CK levels (NB: in our Hospital CCU, CK and
AST are measured at 8hrly intervals). Therefore 16-18
hours post admission timing may be more appropriate in
this regard. Alternatively, we should probably aim at
getting two troponin results taken 8 hours apart,
which will give us a slope from which we can estimate
infarct size. Also having a second sample for troponin
will provide a saftey net should any thing goes wrong
analytically or otherwise with the first sample. The
cost of course will double. Your expert opinion on
this matter is greatly appreciated.
=====
Dr. M A Al-Jubouri
Consultant Chemical Pathologist
Whiston Hospital
Prescot
Merseyside L35 5DR
UK
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints!
http://photos.yahoo.com
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|