Dataset Information

Heterophile antibodies, false-positive troponin, and acute coronary syndrome: a case report indicating a pitfall in clinical practice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Heterophile antibodies are one of the most common causes of false-positive troponin.

Case summary

We report a case of a 53-year-old woman with false-positive troponin elevation and a clinical presentation understood and treated as non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. Because of chronic basal elevation of troponin (at a 'plateau' level) and chest pain, the patient underwent several invasive coronary angiograms until false-positive increase of troponin due to heterophile antibodies was suspected. Borderline stenosis of a left circumflex coronary artery found on first coronary angiogram was a coincidental finding and heterophile antibodies in the patient's serum were confirmed.

Discussion

This interesting case report aims to remind the clinicians about the possibility of false-positive troponin level due to laboratory analytical interference caused by heterophile antibodies. In this case, it is important to suspect false-positive troponin elevation, even when coronary artery disease is found. This rare and less mentioned and/or recognized cause of troponin elevation may lead to unnecessary invasive diagnostics and aggressive treatment of patients.

SUBMITTER: Lakusic N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7859590 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Heterophile antibodies, false-positive troponin, and acute coronary syndrome: a case report indicating a pitfall in clinical practice.

Lakusic Nenad N Sopek Merkas Ivana I Lucinger Daren D Mahovic Darija D

European heart journal. Case reports 20210204 2

<h4>Background</h4>Heterophile antibodies are one of the most common causes of false-positive troponin.<h4>Case summary</h4>We report a case of a 53-year-old woman with false-positive troponin elevation and a clinical presentation understood and treated as non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. Because of chronic basal elevation of troponin (at a 'plateau' level) and chest pain, the patient underwent several invasive coronary angiograms until false-positive increase of troponin due to heterop ...[more]

PMID: 33569533

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Project description:IntroductionTroponin elevation is an independent risk factor for mortality, but the prognosis of patients with troponin elevation and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown. Recent data have suggested an increased risk of mortality. This study was performed to further investigate the outcomes of troponin-positive patients with obstructive and non-obstructive CAD.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis was performed of all patients with raised troponin presenting to Kettering General Hospital (January 2010 to December 2011, n = 1,351). The patients who had angiograms were stratified anatomically into obstructive CAD and non-obstructive CAD (?50% stenosis). The obstructive CAD group (O-CAD) was sub-analyzed by management strategy: emergency re-vascularization (<12 h), urgent, delayed, and medically managed. Patients with non-obstructive CAD were grouped by the cause of the raised troponin if this could be identified (NO-CAD-I) or cause remained unidentified (NO-CAD-U). The major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) and mortality rates were calculated at 30 days and 1-year follow-up.ResultsThere was a preponderance of hypertension and severe renal impairment in the non-obstructive CAD group. The patients with NO-CAD-U were a low-risk group (MACCE at 1-year follow-up = 0). The remaining NO-CAD-I group had a similar risk to the O-CAD group for MACCE and mortality at 30 days and 1-year follow-up. In fact, at 1-year follow-up, the NO-CAD-I patients when compared with the subgroups of O-CAD, had higher MACCE rates and mortality compared with the emergency re-vascularized group [MACCE: relative risk (RR) (95% CI) = 2.27 (1.29-3.40), P = 0.0047; mortality: RR (95% CI) = 2.08 (1.10-3.93), P = 0.024]. This was driven by higher risk non-cardiac death [RR (95% CI) = 4.10 (1.53-10.99), P = 0.005].ConclusionPatients with identified cause for raised troponin and non-obstructive CAD are at equivalent risk of MACCE and mortality at 30 days and 1-year follow-up compared to those with obstructive CAD.

Dataset Information

Heterophile antibodies, false-positive troponin, and acute coronary syndrome: a case report indicating a pitfall in clinical practice.

Background

Case summary

Discussion

Publications

Heterophile antibodies, false-positive troponin, and acute coronary syndrome: a case report indicating a pitfall in clinical practice.

Similar Datasets

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