[High-sensitivity troponin in patients with stable coronary artery disease].

With the introduction of more sensitive markers of myocardial necrosis, it was shown that the diagnosis of (acute) myocardial infarction could be improved. However, many patients without myocardial infarction have elevated troponin levels (low sensitivity), resulting in additional diagnostic testing and longer admission times to find the cause of the troponin rise. Elevated troponin levels in these patients were found to have limited diagnostic but strong prognostic value. This led to studies assessing the value of high-sensitivity troponin in patients with stable disease, e.g. coronary artery disease, or even in patients without apparent (clinical) disease. These studies consistently showed a strong association with long-term (cardiac) mortality. What is the value for the general physician in daily practice? Although troponin levels may help in finding (healthy?) patients at higher risk, it remains unclear whether interventions (medication, lifestyle) are more (cost-)effective in this high-risk subgroup. The role of troponin levels as a prognostic marker in stable patients therefore remains to be determined.