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The use of a sensitive assay for troponin I improves early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and risk stratification, regardless of the time of chest-pain onset.

Pϭ0.008) were all independent predictors of the patient's 6-month outcome. Conclusions-In patients with ACS, MPO serum levels powerfully predict an increased risk for subsequent cardiovascular events and extend the prognostic information gained from traditional biochemical markers. Given its proinflammatory properties, MPO may serve as both a marker and mediator of vascular inflammation and further points toward the significance of PMN activation in the pathophysiology