Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Apr 1998
Comparative Study[Cardiac troponin T in the diagnosis and follow up of suspected myocarditis].
Results of routine laboratory tests for demonstrating myocardial damage in patients suspected of having myocarditis are often negative. This study was undertaken to ascertain (1) whether measuring Tropinin T (cTnT) in these patients can sensitively determine myocardial cell death, (2) to what extent this correlates with the findings of endomyocardial biopsy, and (3) whether measurement of cTnT can provide noninvasive assessment of the course of myocarditis. ⋯ Measurement of cTnT is a very sensitive way of demonstrating myocardial cell damage in patients clinically suspected of having myocarditis. Immunohistological analysis can often provide positive results even if the histological findings are unremarkable. The sensitivity in diagnosing of cTnT is greatest when the patient is tested shortly after the onset of symptoms.