Changes in serum cardiac troponin I levels after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary (PTCA) on myocardium. METHODS: Serum cTnl and CK-MB were measured in 60 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent PTCA before and at the 6th, 12th, 24th, 48th and 72nd hour after the interventional procedure respectively. RESULTS: The serum cTnl levels began to increase at 6 hours (9.65 +/- 6.27 micrograms/L) in 18 patients, reached the peak levels during 12-24 hours (20.43 +/- 11.28 micrograms/L, 18.52 +/- 9.52 micrograms/L), and returned to normal range till 48-72 hours (7.35 +/- 7.62 micrograms/L, 5.51 +/- 3.13 micrograms/L) after PTCA. The serum cTnl and CK-MB levels were kept normal range pre- and post-PTCA in 30 cases. The levels of cTnl in 12 cases were over baseline either before or after the procedure, while for CK-MB, only in 3 cases were over normal range after PTCA. Compared with normal cTnl group, elevated cTnl levels were related to total inflation times and dilated times (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PTCA may cause some minor damage in myocardium, serum cTnl level was more sensitive and specific for monitoring myocardial injury.