Comparison of the analytical performance of the PATHFAST high sensitivity cardiac troponin I using fresh whole blood vs. fresh plasma samples.

Objectives: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin) assay is the first point-of-care assay with a high-sensitivity designation that received FDA approval for diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). Testing from whole blood does not need centrifugation and therefore is faster and more convenient in the emergency room instead of plasma. However, there is sparse evidence whether point-of-care testing of Tn from whole blood is as reliable as from plasma samples.

Diagnostic Evaluation of a High-Sensitivity Troponin I Point-of-Care Assay.

Background: Increasing numbers of patients are presenting worldwide to emergency departments with suspected myocardial infarction. The use of point-of-care troponin assays might enable faster decision-making in this high-risk population and reduce the burden on emergency facilities. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic performance of a point-of-care high-sensitivity troponin I assay.

Presepsin (sCD14-ST) Is a Novel Marker for Risk Stratification in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background: Presepsin (soluble cluster-of-differentiation 14 subtype [sCD14-ST]) is a humoral risk stratification marker for systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis. It remains unknown whether presepsin can be used to stratify risk in elective cardiac surgery. The authors therefore determined the usefulness of presepsin for risk stratification in patients having elective cardiac surgery.

Elevated plasma heparin-binding protein is associated with early death after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.

Background: An intense systemic inflammatory response is observed following reperfusion after cardiac arrest. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a granule protein released by neutrophils that intervenes in endothelial permeability regulation. In the present study, we investigated plasma levels of HBP in a large population of patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Utility of presepsin (sCD14-ST) as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of sepsis in the emergency department.

Background: Presepsin (PSEP) is released during infectious diseases and can be detected in the blood. PSEP has shown promising results as sepsis marker. We examined the diagnostic and prognostic validity of PSEP in patients suspicious of sepsis on admission in the emergency department (ED).

Performance of the AQT90 FLEX cTnI point-of-care assay for the rapid diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the emergency room.

Background: International guidelines stipulate that primarily cardiac troponin (cTn) assays with a coefficient of variation (CV) < or = 10% at the 99th percentile cutoff should be used for diagnosing myocardial infarction. Point-of-care (POC) assays usually do not meet these criteria. Here, we sought to confirm the manufacturer-recommended 99th percentile cutoff and CV of the POC assay AQT90 FLEX cTnI.

Presepsin (soluble CD14 subtype) and procalcitonin levels for mortality prediction in sepsis: data from the Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis trial.

Introduction: Sepsis, a leading cause of death in critically ill patients, is the result of complex interactions between the infecting microorganisms and the host responses that influence clinical outcomes. We evaluated the prognostic value of presepsin (sCD14-ST), a novel biomarker of bacterial infection, and compared it with procalcitonin (PCT).

Methods: This is a retrospective, case-control study of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial enrolling patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in ICUs in Italy.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide predict mortality in stable coronary artery disease: results from the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study.

Background: The simultaneous assessment of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hscTnT) and NT-proBNP for predicting death in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) has yet not been examined. We investigated the additional contribution of hscTnT to the risk of mortality prediction of NT-proBNP in patients with stable CAD.

Methods: We studied 1469 patients with stable CAD enrolled in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study (LURIC).

N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide in the management of patients in the medical emergency department (PROMPT): correlation with disease severity, utilization of hospital resources, and prognosis in a large, prospective, randomized multicentre trial.

Aims: N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a potent marker of heart failure and other cardiac diseases. The value of NT-proBNP testing in the medical emergency department (ED) was assessed in patients >65 years old.

Methods And Results: This large, prospective, randomized, controlled, multicentre trial was conducted in six medical EDs.

High-sensitivity troponin T improves the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with stable coronary artery disease: results from the LURIC Study.

Background: Cardiac troponin T is an established prognostic marker in patients with acute coronary syndromes, but not in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) like N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). We examined the additive prognostic value of a high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) assay to predict adverse clinical outcomes in stable CAD.

Methods: A retrospective nested case-control analysis of 256 patients with stable CAD who participated in the LURIC study: 128 cases who died from cardiovascular causes during a median follow-up of 7.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations predict the risk of cardiovascular adverse events from antiinflammatory drugs: a pilot trial.

Background: we investigated whether higher concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts cardiovascular adverse events (CV-AEs) in patients with osteoarthritis treated with antiinflammatory drugs.

Methods: NT-proBNP was measured in baseline samples from 433 patients enrolled in a prospective randomized study designed to test the therapeutic effect of a novel metalloproteinase inhibitor. We monitored CV-AEs and retrospectively investigated their relationship to the concomitant use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (coxibs), traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs), and glucocorticoids.

Increased plasma concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand in acute coronary syndrome depend on in vitro platelet activation.

Background: Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) was suggested as a novel biomarker of cardiovascular risk. We examined the effect of preanalytical variation on the measurement of sCD40L concentration.

Methods: From healthy control individuals (n = 20) and patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 20) or sepsis (n = 20), we obtained blood drawn into 5 tubes containing citrate or a mixture of citrate, theophylline, adenosine, and dipyridamole (CTAD).

Performance evaluation of automated assays for beta-CrossLaps, N-MID-Osteocalcin and intact parathyroid hormone (BIOROSE Multicenter Study).

Introduction: Biochemical markers of bone metabolism have been mainly determined manually until now and the precision and accuracy of these methods have not always been satisfactory. This has been shown in several external quality assessment schemes (EQAS).

Objective And Study Design: A study named BIOROSE was undertaken to evaluate new automated assays for serum markers of bone metabolism.

Quantitative bedside testing of troponin T: is it equal to laboratory testing? The Cardiac Reader Troponin T (CARE T) study.

The progressive evolution of cardiac marker testing in patients with acute coronary syndromes has extended their role into risk stratification and guidance of therapeutic regimen. To provide utilization of cardiac markers around the clock and facilitate the diagnostic work-up of patients with acute chest pain in the emergency room, a point-of-care system for quantitative troponin T and myoglobin testing in whole blood samples was developed. Aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate bedside quantitative determination of myoglobin and troponin T in chest pain patients in a clinical routine setting.