Usefulness of Cardiac Troponin I as a Prognostic Marker in Noncardiac Critically Ill Patients

Background : Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a specific marker of myocardial injury. It is known that a higher level of cTnI is associated with a poor clinical outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome. An elevation in cTnI is also observed in various noncardiac critical illnesses. This study evaluated whether cTnI is useful for predicting the prognosis in noncardiac critically ill patients. Methods : From June 2003 to July 2004 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, we enrolled 215 patients (male:142, female:73, mean age:$63{\pm}15$ years ) who were admitted for critical illness other than acute coronary syndrome at the medical intensive care unit(ICU). The severity score of critical illness (SAPS II and SOFA) was determined and serum cTnI level was measured within 24 hours after admission to the ICU. The mortality rate was compared between the cTnI-positive (${\geq}0.1{\mu}g/L$) and cTnI-negative ($cTnI<0.1{\mu}g/L$) patients at the $10^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ day after admission to the ICU. The mean cTnI value was compared between the survivors and non-survivors at the $10^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ day after admission to the ICU in the cTnI-positive patients. The correlation between cTnI and the severity of the critical illness score (SAPS II and SOFA) was also analyzed in cTnI-positive patients. Results : 1) The number of cTnI-negative and positive patients were 95(44%) and 120(56%), respectively. 2) The mortality rate at the $10^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ day after admission to the ICU was significantly higher in the cTnI-positive patients (29%, 41%) than in the cTnI-negative patients (12%, 21%)(p<0.01). 3) In the cTnI-positive patients, the mean value of the cTnI at the $10^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ day after admission to the ICU was significantly higher in the non-survivors ($4.5{\pm}9.2{\mu}g/L$, $3.5{\pm}7.9{\mu}g/L$) than in the survivors($1.8{\pm}3.6{\mu}g/L$, $2.0{\pm}3.9{\mu}g/L$) (p < 0.05). 4) In the cTnI-positive patients, the cTnI level was significantly correlated with the SAPS II score (r=0.24, p<0.001) and SOFA score (r=0.30, p<0.001). Conclusion : The cTnI may be a useful prognostic marker in noncardiac critically ill patients.

비순환기계 중환자의 예후인자로서 Cardiac Troponin I의 유용성

배 경 : cTnI는 심근손상의 특이 표시자로서 급성관상동맥 질환에서 높은 증가는 나쁜 예후와 상관이 있다. cTnI의 증가는 여러 가지 비심장성 중증질환에서도 관찰할 수 있다. 연구자 등은 비순환기계 중환자의 예후인자로서 cTnI의 유용성을 조사하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 2003년 1월부터 2004년 7월까지 경상대학교 병원내과계 중환자실에 급성 관상동맥 증후군 이외의 중증 질환으로 입원한 215명의 환자(남:142명, 여:73명, 평균 나이:$63{\pm}2$세)를 대상으로 하였다. 환자들은 중환자실 입원 24시간 이내에 SAPS II와 SOFA점수를 산출하였고 혈청 cTnI를 측정하였다. cTnI 양성군(${\geq}0.1{\mu}g/L$)과 음성군($<0.1{\mu}g/L$) 환자의 중환자실 제 10병일째와 30병일째 사망률을 비교하였다. cTnI 양성군에서 중환자실 제 10병일째와 30병일째에 혈청 cTnI의 평균수치를 비교하였다. cTnI 양성군에서 혈청 cTnI 수치와 SAPS II와 SOFA점수와의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 결 과 : 1) cTnI양성군 환자는 120명(56%)이었고 음성군환자는 95명(44%)였다. 2) 중환자실 제 10병일째와30병일째의 사망률은 cTnI 양성군(29%, 41%)이 음성군(12%, 21%)보다 유의하게 높았다(p<0.01). 3) cTnI 양성군에서 중환자실제10병일째와 30병일째의 cTnI 평균 수치는 비생존군($4.5{\pm}9.2{\mu}g/L$, $3.5{\pm}7.9{\mu}g/L$)이 생존군($1.8{\pm}3.6{\mu}g/L$, $2.0{\pm}3.9{\mu}g/L$)보다 유의하게 높았다(p<0.05). 4) cTnI 양성군에서 cTnI 수치는 SAPS II 점수(r=0.24, p<0.001)와 SOFA 점수(r=0.30, p<0.001)와 유의한 상관관계가 있었다. 결 론 : 혈청 cTnI는 비순환기계 중환자의 유용한 예후인자가 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.