Troponin as ischemic biomarker is related with all three echocardiographic risk factors for sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ESC Guidelines 2014)

BACKGROUND Sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification is the most important preventive action in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The identification of the ischemia biomarker high sensitive troponin I (hs-TnI) role for this arrhythmic disease may provide additional information for SCD risk stratification. The aim of the study was to compare echocardiographic parameters (prognostic for risk stratification of SCD in HCM) among two subgroups of HCM patients: with elevated hs-TnI versus non-elevated hs-TnI level. METHODS In 51 HCM patients (mean age 39 ± 8 years, 31 males and 20 females) an echocardiographic examination, including the stimulating maneuvers to provoke maximized LVOT gradient, was performed. The hs-TnI was measured 24 h later. RESULTS By comparing two subgroups of patients, 26 members with hs-TnI positive versus 25 with hs-TnI negative, the study showed that the values of all three parameters were greater: provocable left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) - 49.1 ± 45.9 vs 25.5 ± 24.8 mmHg, p = 0.019; left atrial diameter - 50.1 ± 9.6 vs 43.9 ± 9.8 mmHg, p = 0.041; maximal LV thickness - 22.1 ± 5.3 vs 19.9 ± 34 mm, p = 0.029. CONCLUSION The increased value of all three echocardiographic parameters used as risk factors for SCD (ESC Guidelines) is related to the elevated level of hs-TnI in HCM. Due to the high LVOTG - great hs-TnI relationship, exercise stress, both diagnostic and even rehabilitation/training, should be monitored by biomarker control.