False Positive Troponin I Rendering Two Admissions for "Recurrent Acute Myopericarditis"
Rita Marinheiro1, Pedro Amador1, Leonor Parreira1
1Cardiology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Setúbal, Setúbal, Portugal.
The Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal
|August 3, 2018
Summary
False positive cardiac troponin I results can occur due to alkaline phosphatase interference. This case highlights the importance of considering assay interference in diagnosing conditions like myopericarditis.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Cardiology
- Diagnostic Assays
Background:
- Cardiac troponin I assays are widely used for diagnosing myocardial infarction.
- The incidence of false positive results is not well-established due to numerous manufacturers.
- Recurrent myopericarditis can present with symptoms mimicking cardiac events.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old patient with a history of myopericarditis presented with recurrent symptoms.
- Cardiac troponin I levels were elevated, initially suggesting a cardiac event.
- Further investigation revealed interference in the troponin assay.
Findings:
- The elevated cardiac troponin I levels were determined to be false positives.
- Alkaline phosphatase interference was identified as the cause of the false positive results.
- This interference impacted the diagnostic accuracy of the troponin I assay.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of potential interferences in cardiac troponin I assays.
- Alkaline phosphatase interference can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
- Consideration of assay interference is crucial for accurate diagnosis, especially in patients with specific clinical histories.
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