[Source: University of Arizona Communications] – When a patient is whisked into the emergency room with symptoms of a heart attack, doctors run a test to determine Troponin-I levels in the bloodstream – the molecular aftermath of a traumatic event damaging the heart muscle.
“Unfortunately, the Troponin-I test doesn’t tell the whole story,” said Jeff Walker, a professor in The University of Arizona department of physiology who is also a member of the UA’s BIO5 Institute and the Sarver Heart Center. “The kits used to determine the levels of this protein don’t tell doctors anything about the exact nature of the damage inflicted on the heart.”
For more information: Finding Better Ways to Diagnose Heart Attacks