Acute myocardial injury: an entity of acute coronary syndromes

M S Daud1, Y Khalid

  • 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

Insights

This case study highlights a 46-year-old man with unstable angina and chest pain at rest. Elevated troponin T levels indicated significant acute myocardial injury, despite undetectable CKMB.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Unstable angina (Braunwald's class IIIB1) presents with chest pain at rest.
  • Inferolateral ischemia on electrocardiogram (ECG) is a critical finding.
  • Biomarker assessment is crucial for diagnosing acute myocardial injury.

Observation:

  • A 46-year-old Indian man presented with symptoms of unstable angina.
  • Electrocardiogram revealed inferolateral ischemia during chest pain at rest.
  • Serial total creatine kinase (CK) levels were elevated.

Findings:

  • Creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) was not detected in serial measurements.
  • Serial serum troponin T levels were significantly elevated.
  • The findings suggest significant acute myocardial injury.

Implications:

  • Troponin T elevation is a sensitive marker for myocardial damage, even with normal CKMB.
  • Early recognition and management of unstable angina are vital.
  • This case underscores the importance of comprehensive cardiac biomarker evaluation.

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