Vol 65, No 6 (2007)
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Published online: 2007-07-02

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Original article
Cardiac troponin I after external electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation as a marker of myocardial injury – a preliminary report

Wiktor Piechota, Grzegorz Gielerak, Robert Ryczek, Anna Kaźmierczak, Jolanta Bejm, Wiesław Piechota
DOI: 10.33963/v.kp.80876
Kardiol Pol 2007;65(6):664-669.

Abstract

Background: It is uncertain whether external electrical cardioversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) can cause myocardial injury identifiable by troponin I (cTnI). Aim: To examine whether external CV of AF can cause cTnI rise as measured with high-sensitivity assay, and to identify factors determining this elevation. Methods: Patients with non-valvular AF selected for CV were included. Exclusion criteria were myocardial ischaemia, elevated D-dimer, heart and renal failure. Patients underwent monophasic or biphasic CV. Troponin I was measured before, and 6 and 12 hours after the procedure with TNI-ADV assay; NT-proBNP was measured before CV. Echocardiography was performed in all patients. Results: Twenty-two patients were examined. Troponin I 6 and 12 hours after CV [0.04 ng/ml (0.00-0.30), 0.04 ng/ml (0.00-0.13)] was significantly higher than before [0.017 pg/ml (0.00-0.08)] (p=0.01, p=0.02). Only in one patient did cTnI exceed the cut-off for myocardial infarction after 6 hours (>0.16 ng/ml) with subsequent normalisation after 12 hours. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was significantly higher and ejection fraction lower in the group with cTnI rise in comparison with the group with no cTnI elevation (54,2±6,3 vs. 47,6±5,7 mm, p=0,02; 56,2±8,9 vs. 63,2±7,1%, p=0,05). LVEDD=53 mm had 75% sensitivity and 72% specificity for predicting cTnI elevation after CV. Age, gender, AF duration, type of CV, energy, left atrial dimension, baseline cTnI and NT-proBNP were not predictive of cTnI increase. Conclusions: Cardioversion can lead to mild but significant cTnI rise as measured with a high-sensitivity assay. The influence of CV on cTnI elevation appears to be more pronounced in patients with relatively large LVEDD.

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Polish Heart Journal (Kardiologia Polska)