Rising Cardiac Troponin: A Prognostic Biomarker for Mortality After Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) is detected in 10% to 30% of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and correlates with poor functional outcomes. Serial cTn measurements differentiate a dynamic cTn pattern (rise/fall >20%), specific for acute myocardial injury, from elevated but stable cTn levels (nondynamic), typically attributed to chronic cardiac/noncardiac conditions. We investigated if the direction of the cTn change (rising versus falling) affects mortality and outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively screened consecutive patients with AIS admitted to 5 stroke centers for elevated cTn at admission and at least 1 additional cTn measurement within 48 hours. The pattern of cTn was defined as rising if >20% increase from baseline, falling if >20% decrease, or nondynamic if ≤20% change in either direction. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of cTn patterns and 7-day mortality and unfavorable discharge disposition. Of 3789 patients with AIS screened, 300 were included. Seventy-two had a rising pattern, 66 falling, and 162 nondynamic. In patients with AIS with rising cTn, acute ischemic myocardial infarction was present in 54%, compared with 33% in those with falling cTn (P<0.01). Twenty-two percent of patients with a rising pattern had an isolated dynamic cTn in the absence of any ECG or echocardiogram changes, compared with 53% with falling cTn. A rising pattern was associated with higher risk of 7-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=32 [95% CI, 2.5-415.0] rising versus aOR=1.3 [95% CI, 0.1-38.0] falling versus nondynamic as reference) and unfavorable discharge disposition (aOR=2.5 [95% CI, 1.2-5.2] rising versus aOR=0.6 [95% CI, 0.2-1.5] versus falling).

CONCLUSIONS

Rising cTn is independently associated with increased mortality and unfavorable discharge disposition in patients with AIS.

Stroke-Heart Syndrome: Does Sex Matter?

Background Cardiovascular complications after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can be related to chronic/comorbid cardiac conditions or acute disruption of the brain-heart autonomic axis (stroke-heart syndrome). Women are known to be more vulnerable to certain stress-induced cardiac complications, such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. We investigated sex differences in cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation, cardiac events, and outcomes after AIS. Methods and Results We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with AIS from 5 stroke centers. Patients with AIS with elevated baseline cTn and at least 2 cTn measurements were included, while patients with acute comorbid conditions that could impact cTn levels were excluded. Poststroke acute myocardial injury was defined as the presence of a dynamic cTn pattern (rise/fall >20% in serial measurements) in the absence of acute atherosclerotic coronary disease (type 1 myocardial infarction) or cardiac death (type 3 myocardial infarction). From a total cohort of 3789 patients with AIS, 300 patients were included in the study: 160 were women (53%). Women were older, had a lower burden of cardiovascular risk factors, and more frequently had cardioembolic stroke and right insula involvement (P values all <0.05). In multivariate analysis, women were more likely to have a dynamic cTn pattern (adjusted odds ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.2-3.6]) and develop poststroke acute myocardial injury (adjusted odds ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.1-3.8]). Patients with poststroke acute myocardial injury had higher 7-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 5.5 [95% CI, 1.2-24.4]). Conclusions In patients with AIS with elevated cTn at baseline, women are twice as likely to develop poststroke acute myocardial injury, and this is associated with higher risk of short-term mortality. Translational studies are needed to clarify mechanisms underlying sex differences in cardiac events and mortality in AIS.

A rare case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage caused by acute mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common bacterial pathogen that causes atypical community-acquired pneumonia. Illness onset can be gradual and progressive over weeks. Patients typically have cough, pharyngitis, malaise, and tracheobronchitis. Although symptoms are frequently mild, the initial presentation can be severe with numerous complications. We present a case of a 28-year-old male who presented with 1 day of significant hemoptysis. He was intubated for airway protection and underwent bronchoscopy, which showed multiple blood clots in several lung lobes, consistent with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). His workup was negative for pulmonary embolism, coagulopathy, and vasculitis. He tested positive for rhinovirus and mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM (negative IgG). He was ultimately discharged home with oral doxycycline to complete a 10-day course. DAH is a rare presentation and life-threatening complication of mycoplasma pneumonia. Although there is a reported association between DAH and rhinovirus, our patient improved with antibiotics making mycoplasma pneumoniae the likely culprit. When encountering hemoptysis or alveolar bleeding, clinicians should have low suspicion for atypical infections and start appropriate antibiotics early in the clinical course.