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Is Elevated Troponin Level Associated With Cardiac Diseases?
Question: 49 yo male in generally good health. I had a temperature spike Monday to 103 degrees. The shivering was so profoundly strong it felt more like a seizure. Went to the ER where they asked me if i had a tick bite, which I had. So they ran all these tests and found I had troponin level .08. So they sent me to Cardiac unit for 48 hours where my levels went down to .06 and then .03. They did the ECG and ultrasound for my heart and it all came up clean. Also I have good BP (hovers around 120/80) and pulse. Also cholesterol is low. Anyway all the tests (incluing Lyme and spotted fever) are negative and fever is gone. They sent me home Wednesday. I spoke to the cardiologist and apparently the temperature spike caused the strain on the heart and the troponin spike. However my sister (who is a nurse) and her husband (cardiac nurse) swear I had a heart attack, but I had none of the symptoms. Note that I was in the cardio unit on a heart monitor for 48 hours or so. Also no family history of heart disease. I would say that for some months I have been very stressed and I get profoundly tired, also I do not sleep well. Can .08 troponin not be a heart attack? I know they also checked my kidneys in the machine with the radioactive XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that such a troponin value could be related to other possible conditions, different from a heart attack:
- high body temperature (fever) and inflammation
- kidney dysfunction
- myocarditis
- pericardial inflammation
- bouts of atrial fibrillation
- pulmonary embolism.
Considering the fact that you had fever, but no typical chest pain or changes on your cardiac tests, it is more probably that these slightly elevated troponin levels are related to the temperature spike and the stressful situation that you have experienced.
To be sure on the above mentioned alternatives, I would recommend performing a cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusional cardiac stress test which would definitely exclude or confirm even a minor possible cardiac injury.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
I remain at your disposal whenever you have any other questions!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that such a troponin value could be related to other possible conditions, different from a heart attack:
- high body temperature (fever) and inflammation
- kidney dysfunction
- myocarditis
- pericardial inflammation
- bouts of atrial fibrillation
- pulmonary embolism.
Considering the fact that you had fever, but no typical chest pain or changes on your cardiac tests, it is more probably that these slightly elevated troponin levels are related to the temperature spike and the stressful situation that you have experienced.
To be sure on the above mentioned alternatives, I would recommend performing a cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusional cardiac stress test which would definitely exclude or confirm even a minor possible cardiac injury.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
I remain at your disposal whenever you have any other questions!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
They gave me the test where they put you in the machine and you can taste copper. Is that one of the tests you mentioned?
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I am sorry, but I don't understand the test that you have performed.
Anyway, I would like to directly review those test reports for a more professional opinion, if you can upload them.
I recommend discussing with your doctor on the above mentioned tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Let me know about everything!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I am sorry, but I don't understand the test that you have performed.
Anyway, I would like to directly review those test reports for a more professional opinion, if you can upload them.
I recommend discussing with your doctor on the above mentioned tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Let me know about everything!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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