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Could Esophageal Spasms Cause An Elevated Troponin Levels?
Question: I heard that espohogeal spasms can cause an elevated troponin level? My wife has these every few days and now is concerned that the elevated troponin level could be a sign of heart damage.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
So if I understand you correctly, your wife has frequent esophageal spasms, and at some point her troponin level was measured and it is elevated?
How high is her troponin and when was it tested?
Has she had any cardiac evaluation other than a troponin level? (EKG, cardiac enzymes, stress test, echocardiogram)
Thanks - I'll write back after you provide additional history.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
So if I understand you correctly, your wife has frequent esophageal spasms, and at some point her troponin level was measured and it is elevated?
How high is her troponin and when was it tested?
Has she had any cardiac evaluation other than a troponin level? (EKG, cardiac enzymes, stress test, echocardiogram)
Thanks - I'll write back after you provide additional history.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
We are wanting to know if what she heard (that esophageal spasms COULD cause elevated troponin levels).
She has not had any cardiac evaluations done and no blood work for troponin. I thought it might be a good idea to get blood work done as soon as possible following an attack.
These esophageal spasms are very painful to her. She is a retired nurse and is aware of the warning signs of heart attacks and says that it must feel similar to her spasms.
She has had an ENT scope to diagnose the spasms; but we are wondering about having her get the cardiac follow up if you feel that could be a consequence or contributor?
She has not had any cardiac evaluations done and no blood work for troponin. I thought it might be a good idea to get blood work done as soon as possible following an attack.
These esophageal spasms are very painful to her. She is a retired nurse and is aware of the warning signs of heart attacks and says that it must feel similar to her spasms.
She has had an ENT scope to diagnose the spasms; but we are wondering about having her get the cardiac follow up if you feel that could be a consequence or contributor?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
While there are some other things that can cause elevated troponin levels (advanced renal disease for example), elevated troponin levels are fairly specific to heart problems. I cannot find literature that troponin is elevated in the presence of esophageal spasms.
Elevated troponin is a by product of heart attacks or coronary stress, not the cause of it. It is used to help determine if heart attack type symptoms are from the heart because it is fairly specific to the heart.
You are right that esophageal spasms and heart attacks can have similar symptoms, and that is the reason when a person presents to the ER with these symptoms, and it is not definitively known that the person has another problem that can present in this way, then a heart attack has to be ruled out. This is done with an exam, EKG, and troponin levels.
If it has been definitely diagnosed that the problem is esophageal spasm, then a cardiac work up is not necessary, unless symptoms change or are different in some way.
Information
Detailed Answer:
While there are some other things that can cause elevated troponin levels (advanced renal disease for example), elevated troponin levels are fairly specific to heart problems. I cannot find literature that troponin is elevated in the presence of esophageal spasms.
Elevated troponin is a by product of heart attacks or coronary stress, not the cause of it. It is used to help determine if heart attack type symptoms are from the heart because it is fairly specific to the heart.
You are right that esophageal spasms and heart attacks can have similar symptoms, and that is the reason when a person presents to the ER with these symptoms, and it is not definitively known that the person has another problem that can present in this way, then a heart attack has to be ruled out. This is done with an exam, EKG, and troponin levels.
If it has been definitely diagnosed that the problem is esophageal spasm, then a cardiac work up is not necessary, unless symptoms change or are different in some way.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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