[Cardiac Troponin, a biological marker for the diagnosis of myocardial necrosis].

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Puerto Rico and all over the World. Among these, the most frequent one is ischemic heart disease. The diagnosis is primarily based upon clinical findings, electrocardiography, and the use of biological markers for cardiac injury and necrosis. In the last years, cardiac troponins have been available as the most useful biological markers due to its high sensitivity and specificity for myocardial necrosis. Information concerning the fundamental studies and trials that confirm thejustification for the use of cardiac troponins as biological markers for myocardial necrosis is presented.