What is the significance of having elevated cardiac enzymes

A technician will insert a needle into a person's arm and draw a sample of blood. They will send the sample to a lab where it will be analyzed for cardiac enzymes. People undergoing a cardiac enzyme test do not need to fast or undergo any special preparations. Doctors often order this test in an emergency situation when they suspect a person may be having a heart attack. Dr Robert Greenbaum's Practice.

Password Forgot Password? Remember me. Subscribe to this blog post. What do elevated cardiac enzyme levels mean? What are Cardiac Enzymes? Measure of a Heart Attack. Other Reasons for Elevated Enzymes. Brain disorders. People with elevated troponin have increased risk factors for stroke. Additionally, after a stroke, troponin levels help determine prognosis for short-term and long-term outlook.

Respiratory conditions: Certain lung disorders have been linked to elevated cardiac enzymes. The most common is a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lungs. About 30 to 50 percent of people with pulmonary embolism have elevated troponins, according to the JCCR review.

Kidney disease: People with kidney disease are at increased risk for heart disease and heart attacks. Nevertheless, cardiac enzymes are often elevated in people with kidney disease who are not experiencing a heart attack. Decreased kidney function likely contributes to chronically elevated cardiac enzymes, as the kidneys are responsible for clearing cardiac enzymes from the body. Severe infection: A severe bloodstream infection called sepsis is associated with elevated cardiac enzymes. The body responds to sepsis with an inflammatory response that can affect multiple organs, including the heart.

People who experience a stroke often may have an underlying heart condition which contributes to the stroke, causing the elevated enzymes.

Respiratory conditions: Certain lung disorders have been associated with elevated heart enzymes. The most common being pulmonary embolism — blood clot in the lung. When a blood clot travels to the lungs, the heart must overwork itself, which causes added stress and damage. This then results in the release of enzymes. Kidney disease: High blood pressure and diabetes are contributing factors for kidney disease and having kidney disease increases the risk of heart disease.