A window into your heart: taking cardiac troponin to the next level

The cardiac troponins are important cardiovascular biomarkers for myocardial necrosis and are measured in thousands of patients daily. In parallel with the widespread adoption of troponin testing for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction during the last two decades, the analytical sensitivity of assays has progressively improved, which has allowed the identification of more acute coronary syndrome patients at risk of future cardiac events. In addition, using novel high-sensitivity assays, circulating troponin can be observed not only in acute settings, but also in many patients suffering from chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart failure and diabetes. We believe that these findings provide a compelling case for exploring whether troponin levels may be a useful tool for guiding clinical decision-making directly in the management of some of these chronic conditions. Sampling of troponin in such patient populations may allow for more refined risk stratification and, importantly, help clinicians individualize care beyond what is currently possible.