Comparison of Cardiac Troponin T and I: Impact on Definitions of Perioperative Myocardial Infarction After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BACKGROUND: We aimed to directly compare the postoperative release dynamics of cTn (cardiac troponin) T and I after uneventful coronary artery bypass graft surgery and analyze differences between cTnT and cTnI regarding biomarker thresholds across various definitions of perioperative myocardial infarction. METHODS: Patients >18 years of age undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery were included. Measurements of cTnT/I were performed in the same patients from the same blood samples. Patients with patent bypass grafts on postoperative computed tomography and without a ≥10% decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, indicating an uneventful postoperative course, were included. Criteria for perioperative myocardial infarction were applied according to current guidelines and recommendations (Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction, the Academic Research Consortium-2, VISION [Vascular Events in Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation]). RESULTS: <0.001). Including echocardiogram and ECG criteria for perioperative myocardial infarction, differences between cTnT and I were lower but remained. CONCLUSIONS: cTnT and I differ in their postoperative concentrations after coronary artery bypass graft with impact on current criteria for perioperative myocardial infarction.