This study examined the performance of single high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) measurement strategies to rule out acute myocardial infarction.

This was a prospective, observational study of consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department (n = 1631) in whom cTnI measurements were obtained using an investigational hs-cTnI assay. The goals of the study were to determine 1) negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, type 1 myocardial infarction, and type 2 myocardial infarction; and 2) safety outcome of acute myocardial infarction or cardiac death at 30 days using hs-cTnI less than the limit of detection (LoD) (<1.9 ng/L) or the High-STEACS threshold (<5 ng/L) alone and in combination with normal electrocardiogram (ECG).

Acute myocardial infarction occurred in 170 patients (10.4%), including 68 (4.2%) type 1 myocardial infarction and 102 (6.3%) type 2 myocardial infarction. For hs-cTnI<LoD (27%), the NPV and sensitivity for acute myocardial infarction were 99.6% (95% confidence interval 98.9%-100%) and 98.8 (97.2%-100%). For hs-cTnI<5 ng/L (50%), the NPV and sensitivity for acute myocardial infarction were 98.9% (98.2%-99.6%) and 94.7% (91.3%-98.1%). In combination with a normal ECG, 1) hs-cTnI<LoD had an NPV of 99.6% (98.9%-100%) and sensitivity of 99.4% (98.3%-100%); and 2) hs-cTnI<5 ng/L had an NPV of 99.5% (98.8%-100%) and sensitivity of 98.8% (97.2%-100%). The NPV and sensitivity for the safety outcome were excellent for hs-cTnI<LoD alone or in combination with a normal ECG, and for hs-cTnI<5 ng/L in combination with a normal ECG.

Strategies using a single hs-cTnI alone or in combination with a normal ECG allow the immediate identification of patients unlikely to have acute myocardial infarction and who are at very low risk for adverse events at 30 days.