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In This Article
When the heart is damaged, it releases troponins into the bloodstream. This leads to elevated troponin levels. Your cardiac troponins are high if:1
High troponin levels are often seen in people who are having heart attacks or suffer from myocardial injury. However, other conditions may also cause it.
“Myocardial infarction is the most common cause of high levels of troponin. A troponin test helps doctors diagnose a heart attack,” says Dr. Rizza Mira.
Dr. Rizza Mira is an in-house medical expert at KnowYourDNA. She’ll help us explain what high troponin levels mean and what you can do about it.
Summary
Troponin is a protein in your cardiac muscles. It is released into your blood when there is damage to your heart. Healthy people have normal levels of troponin.
Troponin is a protein found in your skeletal and heart muscles. It makes your muscles contract and maintains a strong and healthy heartbeat.2
The protein troponin also helps your heart pump enough blood throughout your body so your cells and organs get an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients.2
There are three types of troponin proteins:
When the heart tissue is damaged, the troponins T and I from inside your heart muscle cells are released into the bloodstream. This is why a troponin test measures only these two proteins.
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Healthy people usually have cardiac troponin levels that can't be detected by blood tests. Test results within the normal range suggest the absence of heart disease or heart injury.
However, what is considered “normal” for each type of troponin may vary across laboratories. Some labs may also have different ranges for men and women.
Usually, the normal levels for a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin test are:1
Even the slightest increase in troponins may be a sign of heart injury.
Troponin levels are high when they’re outside the normal range. This means having troponin I levels above 0.04 ng/mL or troponin T levels above 0.01 ng/mL.1
These are signs that there has been damage to the heart.
If your high-sensitivity troponin I test shows abnormal levels, you may be at risk of a heart attack or have already suffered it recently—and need immediate medical attention.
Meanwhile, above-normal results for a high-sensitivity troponin T test suggest heart failure. Hospitalization is needed to manage the condition.
Summary
Troponins are cardiac biomarkers. Positive troponin test results indicate the presence of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.
High troponin levels may be a sign that you suffered a heart attack. Higher levels suggest more serious damage to your heart muscles.
Troponin levels will rise 4 to 6 hours after a heart attack. This peaks around 12 to 48 hours after, but they can stay elevated up to two weeks later.1
Dr. Mira says blood clots are the most common cause of heart attacks. If your troponin is high, your doctor will retest your levels to see how they change over time.
Other health conditions that may cause high troponin levels are:3
Heterophile antibodies may cause false positive results. These are antibodies released during autoimmune diseases, blood transfusions, vaccines, and certain foods.4
Summary
Troponin testing—along with other tests—can help your doctor determine the best course of action and prevent more serious complications on your health.
Treatment depends on what is causing your elevated troponin levels. Doctors may use other tests to identify the exact location of heart damage, so they find the best treatment for your condition.
If you’ve had a heart attack, the doctor may suggest treatments to restore blood flow and prevent further damage to your heart. These include:
“ACE inhibitors like captopril and enalapril also prevent the heart from changing its structure due to damage,” explains Dr. Mira.
In severe blockages, blood flow to the heart can be restored with a cardiac stent (a tube that keeps arteries open) or a coronary artery bypass surgery.
The doctor may also prescribe statins to reduce your risk for future heart attacks and complications. But if your high troponin level is caused by reasons other than a heart attack, your doctor may suggest other treatments.
Troponin tests check for heart damage. Doctors usually order a high-sensitivity troponin test when a patient shows symptoms of a heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms include:
High-sensitivity tests for troponin are also recommended for people who want to undergo heart surgery but have a high risk of cardiac injury.
A doctor will consider all your symptoms and health history to diagnose your condition. They may need more tests like a chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and other blood tests.
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