Cardiac troponins (cTn) are the preferred biomarkers for the noninvasive detection of myocardial injury. However, cTn are not exclusively released as a result of ischaemic myocardial cell necrosis, but also with acute and chronic nonischaemic conditions. In this Review, Giannitsis and Katus describe the causes and the prognostic importance of the release of cTn not related to acute coronary syndromes, and recommend strategies to discriminate between ischaemic and nonischaemic cTn elevation.
- Evangelos Giannitsis
- Hugo A. Katus