We evaluated prospectively 107 consecutive patients [median (inter- quartile range) age: 64(55-75) years; 29 women] admitted to intensive cardiac care unit for chest pain, with admission cTnI levels o0.1 mg/l. In all patients, the parameters determined on admission included their levels of cTnI (chemiluminiscence immunoassay with microparticles, Abbott, Architect i2000 analyzer), hs-cTnT (electrochemiluminiscence immunoassay; Roche Cobas e411 analyzer), and myoglobin (immunoturbidimetry).
The diagnosis of AMI was established by the attending cardiologist (using the ''universal'' definition of acute myocardial infarction). The cTnI and hs-cTnT cut-off values for AMI were 0.033 mg/l and 14ng/l, respectively.
Troponin I levels were again determined at 6 and 12h after admission...