Adding stress biomarkers to high sensitivity troponin measurements increases precision and efficacy of rapid rule out protocols for NSTEMI

Abstract

Background NSTEMI may be ruled out in patients presenting with acute chest pain based on low baseline high sensitivity troponin (cTn) at admission. This procedure is limited by a low expected frequency of ruled out non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) patients. Purpose To investigate if stress-induced biomarkers (glucose or copeptin) combined with cTn can increase the rate of NCCP ruled out without an unacceptable increase in incorrectly ruled out NSTEMI. Method 971 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS were included. Final diagnosis was adjudicated by two independent cardiologists using clinical data including routine cTnT. Additionally, baseline cTnI, cTnI from Singulex Clarity System (cTnI(sgx)), copeptin and glucose were measured. Diagnostic performance to rule out NSTEMI was compared between the ESC rule out algorithms for cTnT and cTnI(Abbott), a local cTnI(sgx) algorithm and different combinations of cTn with copeptin or glucose Results Median age 61 years, 60% male. 13% had NSTEMI, 12% had UAP and 60% NCCP. Distribution of copeptin and glucose concentrations (NSTEMI and NCCP) is shown in figure 1. Copeptin and cTnT produces an algorithm with lower miss rate for NSTEMI, increased rule out rate for NCCP and significantly higher AUC (DeLong test, p value <0.001) compared to the ESC algorithm (Table 1). cTnI(sgx) and copeptin showed higher rule out for NCCP and higher AUC (p value <0.001), however an increased rule out rate for NSTEMIs. Combining cTnI(Abbott) and glucose gave a similar miss rate for NSTEMI as ESC, but increased rule out rate for NCCP and higher AUC (p value <0.001). Conclusion Combining cTnT or cTnI(sgx) with copeptin; or cTnI with glucose, improves diagnostic precision and efficacy of rule out protocols for NSTEMI in patients presenting with acute chest pain. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Western Norway Regional Health Authority; Haukeland and Stavanger University Hospitals