Cardiotrophin-1 in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes: Does it Have a Role?

Abstract

Acute coronary syndromes are among the most common diagnoses in the emergency department (ED). It has been estimated that 300,000 to 400,000 cases are seen each year in Brazil. 1 The diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is made on the basis of symptoms, electrocardiogram, and biological markers of myocardial necrosis. Troponins are the most specific cardiac markers, and in the era of highly sensitive assays, they have been shown to make the exclusion of AMI in the ED more rapid, being particularly helpful in patients with atypical presentations. 2