Question

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings of a client who developed chest pain 6 hr ago. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of a myocardial infarction (MI)?

A) Increased troponin levels.
B) Elevated blood glucose.
C) Decreased white blood cell count.
D) Low creatinine levels.

Answer 1

Increased troponin levels in the blood are indicative of a myocardial infarction (MI), which can be confirmed through an ECG and other blood tests like creatine kinase MB (CK-MB).

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory finding indicative of a myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, is Increased troponin levels. When the blood flow to a part of the heart stops, it can damage the heart muscle, leading to MI. Troponin is a regulatory protein for muscle contraction that is released into the bloodstream when cardiac muscle cells are damaged. As part of the diagnosis process, an electrocardiogram (ECG) will often show alterations in the ST and Q components, indicating a STEMI (ST-elevated MI) or non-STEMI event. Additionally, blood tests may additionally show elevated levels of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), another enzyme released by damaged cardiac muscle cells.