Myocardial damage during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty as evidenced by troponin T measurements

Aim The present study was undertaken to assess the effect ofballoon inflation during percutaneous transluminal coronaryangioplasty on markers of myocardial damage. Methods and results Seventy-five patients undergoing electivepercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were evaluatedwith serum creatine kinase MB and cardio-specific troponin Tbefore and 1 and 4 days after the procedure. On day 1, 28% ofthe patients had increased cardiospecific troponin T valuesand 18% had increased creatine kinase MB values. On day 4, 24%had increased cardiospecific troponin T values, whereas allcreatine kinase MB values were normal. A high degree of correlationbetween creatine kinase MB and cardiospecific troponin T onday 1, as well as between both markers on day 1 and cardiospecifictroponin T on day 4 were found. The increased levels of cardiospecifictroponin T on day 4 was significantly correlated with the totalballoon inflation time (P<0·001). Conclusion We conclude that irreversible myocardial damage,as evidenced by increased cardiospecific troponin T values onday 4, occurs in an appreciable number of patients during percutaneoustransluminal coronary angio-plasty, and that this damage isstrongly correlated with the total balloon inflation time.