Typical rise and fall of troponin in (peri-procedural) myocardial infarction: A systematic review

AIM: To identify the typical shape of the rise and fall curve of troponin (Tn) following the different types of myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and Embase including all studies which focused on the kinetics of Tn in MI type 1, type 4 and type 5. Tn levels were standardized using the 99(th) percentile, a pooled mean with 95%CI was calculated from the weighted means for each time point until 72 h.

RESULTS: A total of 34 of the 2528 studies identified in the systematic search were included. The maximum peak level of the Tn was seen after 6 h after successful reperfusion of an acute MI, after 12 h for type 1 MI and after 72 h for type 5 MI. In type 1 MI there were additional smaller peaks at 1 h and at 24 h. After successful reperfusion of an acute MI there was a second peak at 24 h. There was not enough data available to analyze the Tn release after MI associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (type 4).

CONCLUSION: The typical rise and fall of Tn is different for type 1 MI, successful reperfusion of an acute MI and type 5 MI, with different timing of the peak levels and different slopes of the fall phase.