Role of troponin in COVID-19 pandemic: a review of literature

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2020 Oct;24(19):10293-10300. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202010_23254.

Abstract

Acute SARS-CoV-2 respiratory disease is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 belonging to the coronaviridae family. A pandemic is still present as of May 2020. In addition to causing pneumonia, SARS-CoV-2 may induce a direct damage to the heart, causing myocarditis, with significant impairment of cardiac contractility, and/or pericarditis. Elderly patients and those with cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, are at increased risk of heart complications from COVID-19. In this review, we focused on the correlation between COVID-19 infection and the high sensitivity troponin T and I, and their significance in the development of myocarditis. Data emerging from the studies so far conducted indicate that a high value of high-sensitivity troponin represents a negative prognostic indicator when associated with heart damage on an infectious-inflammatory basis (i.e. myopericarditis). We should identify a safe and clear diagnostic algorithm, possibly combining patient clinical history, troponin levels and cardiac ultrasound findings that could help us in the prediction of myopericarditis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Myocarditis / blood
  • Myocarditis / complications
  • Myocarditis / diagnosis*
  • Pandemics
  • Prognosis
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Troponin I / blood*
  • Troponin T / blood*

Substances

  • Troponin I
  • Troponin T