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Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T is associated with coronary artery calcification
Noriyuki Kitagawa1, Hiroshi Okada1, Muhei Tanaka1
1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Insights
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is linked to coronary artery calcification in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. This finding suggests hs-cTnT may help detect subclinical atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Subclinical atherosclerosis detection is crucial for cardiovascular disease risk assessment.
- High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) has emerged as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk.
- The association between hs-cTnT and coronary artery calcification requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if serum hs-cTnT concentrations correlate with the extent of coronary artery calcification.
- To evaluate hs-cTnT as a potential marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals with suspected coronary artery disease.
Main Methods:
- Serum hs-cTnT levels were measured in 215 stable patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
- Coronary computed tomography (CT) was used to assess coronary calcium score and identify obstructive coronary artery disease.
- Multiple regression and logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate associations.
Main Results:
- Serum hs-cTnT concentrations were independently associated with coronary calcium score (β = 0.348; P < .0001).
- Higher hs-cTnT levels correlated with increased odds of significant coronary calcification (Agatston score >10 and >400).
- hs-cTnT was also associated with an increased likelihood of obstructive coronary artery disease.
Conclusions:
- Serum hs-cTnT is significantly associated with coronary artery calcification in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
- hs-cTnT may serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying subclinical atherosclerosis.
- These findings support the utility of hs-cTnT in cardiovascular risk stratification.
Objective:
Recent studies have suggested that high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) may be useful for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis and assessing cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum hs-cTnT is associated with the degree of coronary artery calcification.
Methods:
We measured serum hs-cTnT concentrations and performed multidetector row coronary CT in 215 consecutive, stable patients with clinical suspicion of coronary artery disease. Nonenhanced coronary CT was performed to determine the coronary calcium score, and contrast-enhanced coronary CT was performed to identify obstructive coronary artery disease. We then evaluated the relationship between serum hs-cTnT concentrations and the degree of coronary calcium or obstructive coronary artery disease using multiple regression analysis and logistic regression models.
Results:
Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that serum hs-cTnT concentrations and calcium score were independently associated after logarithmic transformation (β = 0.348; P < .0001). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that serum hs-cTnT concentration was associated with an increased odds of an Agatston score >10 (odds ratio, 1.250; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.150-1.378), an Agatston Score >400 (odds ratio, 1.101; 95% CI, 1.054-1.157), and obstructive coronary artery disease (odds ratio, 1.119; 95% CI, 1.066-1.185).
Conclusion:
Serum hs-cTnT is associated with coronary calcium in individuals with suspected coronary disease and may therefore be a marker to detect subclinical atherosclerosis.
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