Value of troponin T versus I in the diagnosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis and myositis: rechallenge?

ESC Heart Fail. 2023 Aug;10(4):2680-2685. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.14360. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Abstract

A 54-year old patient with metastatic melanoma presented with asymptomatic myositis and myocarditis after combined immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) therapy (anti-programmed cell death receptor-1, anti-lymphocyte activating gene-3, and anti-indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1). The diagnosis was based on the typical time window after ICI, recurrence upon re-challenge, elevations of CK, high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) and I (hs-TnI), mild NT-proBNP increase, and positive magnetic resonance imaging criteria. Notably, hsTnI was found to more rapidly increase and fall and to be more heart-specific than TnT in the context of ICI-related myocarditis. This led to ICI therapy withdrawal and switch to a less effective systemic therapy. This case report highlights the differential value of hs-TnT and hs-TnI for diagnosis and monitoring of ICI-related myositis and myocarditis.

Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Myocarditis; Myositis; Troponin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Heart
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocarditis* / chemically induced
  • Myocarditis* / diagnosis
  • Myositis* / chemically induced
  • Myositis* / diagnosis
  • Troponin T

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Troponin T