High mortality with ST elevation myocardial infarction in a nontrial setting.

Background: Early mortality following ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) is declining in trial and nontrial settings. Absolute rates in nontrial settings remain significantly higher than those seen in randomized controlled trials. It is unclear if this mortality difference is due to different patient characteristics or to less frequent use of reperfusion strategies.

Troponin I and T levels in renal failure patients without acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: Debate surrounds the interpretation of troponin assays for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac disease in patients with renal failure.

Objectives: To systematically review the diagnostic and prognostic test characteristics of quantitative serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT) in renal failure patients without acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptoms.

Methods: English-language literature was identified through searching MEDLINE from 1966 to August 2003 and reviewing reference lists.