Troponin levels after a heart attack?

Troponin levels after a heart attack

Troponin levels are a measure of the amount of troponin, a protein found in the heart, in the blood. Troponin levels are typically elevated after a heart attack, as the heart muscle is damaged and releases troponin into the bloodstream.

Troponin levels can be used to:

* Diagnose a heart attack

* Determine the severity of a heart attack

* Predict the risk of complications after a heart attack

Normal troponin levels

Normal troponin levels are typically less than 0.01 ng/mL. Troponin levels may be slightly elevated in people with certain medical conditions, such as heart failure, kidney disease, or sepsis.

Elevated troponin levels

Elevated troponin levels may be a sign of a heart attack, or they may be caused by other medical conditions, such as:

* Angina

* Heart failure

* Kidney disease

* Sepsis

* Myocarditis

* Pericarditis

* Pulmonary embolism

* Stroke

* Trauma

If you have elevated troponin levels, your doctor will likely order additional tests to determine the cause.

Treatment for elevated troponin levels

The treatment for elevated troponin levels depends on the underlying cause. If your elevated troponin levels are caused by a heart attack, treatment may include:

* Medications to dissolve blood clots

* Angioplasty and stenting

* Coronary artery bypass surgery

If your elevated troponin levels are caused by another medical condition, treatment will be directed at that condition.

Outlook for elevated troponin levels

The outlook for elevated troponin levels depends on the underlying cause. If your elevated troponin levels are caused by a heart attack, the outlook depends on the severity of the heart attack and the timeliness of treatment.

If your elevated troponin levels are caused by another medical condition, the outlook depends on the severity of that condition.