Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and significance of troponin i (tni) elevation in acute pericarditis.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively included 69 patients with acute idiopathic pericarditis. We analyzed ECG recordings, echocardiography findings and tni level. Thirty-four patients (49%) had detectable tni (> 0.5 ng/ml), 15 (22%) had a significantly elevated level (> 1.5 ng/ml). There was a significant correlation between elevated tni level and ST elevation. All patients were well at one year.
Conclusions: A rise in tni is frequently observed during acute idiopathic pericarditis. According to the correlation with ST segment elevation, a rise in tni is apparently indicative of superficial myocardial damage. The prognostic value remains unknown.