High background levels compromise the use of cardiac troponin I RNA detection in peripheral blood as a diagnostic tool in cardiology.

Abstract

The detection of cardiac troponins in peripheral blood as protein markers of myocardial infarction is a new diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of cardiac disease. In order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of this diagnostic approach, a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay has been developed to detect the mRNA encoding cardiac troponin I from myocardial cells hypothetically released from damaged cardiac tissue. The detection is specific for cardiac troponin I mRNA, with no amplification of homologous sequences of other troponin I isoforms, i.e., troponin I from skeletal muscle cells. However, a strong amplification signal for cardiac troponin I mRNA was detected in samples of peripheral blood from healthy human volunteers. In patients with acute myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, the cardiac troponin I mRNA levels were not increased over background levels. In conclusion, a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction approach based on the amplification of cardiac troponin I mRNA is not feasible in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases.

• Authors: P Tschentscher, C Heeschen, C Hamm, C Wagener
• Journal: International journal of clinical & laboratory research (Int J Clin Lab Res) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 13-5 ( 2000) ISSN: 0940-5437 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 10984126 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Protein Isoforms
• RNA, Messenger
• Troponin I

Topics

• Angina Pectoris (blood, diagnosis)
• Angina, Unstable (blood, diagnosis)
• Base Sequence
• Biomarkers
• Feasibility Studies
• Humans
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Myocardial Infarction (blood, diagnosis)
• Myocardium (metabolism)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Protein Isoforms (genetics)
• RNA, Messenger (blood)
• Sequence Alignment
• Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
• Troponin I (genetics)