Question

A client arrives in the emergency department complaining of chest pain that began 4 hours ago. A troponin T blood specimen is obtained and the results indicate a level of 0.6 ng/mL. The nurse determines that this result indicates which finding?

1. A normal level 2. A low value that indicates possible gastritis
3. A level that indicates a myocardial infarction
4. A level that indicates the presence of possible angina

Answer 1

A troponin T level of 0.6 ng/mL in a client with chest pain is indicative of a myocardial infarction, supported by the fact that troponin levels above the normal range signify heart muscle damage. This biomarker is more specific for myocardial infarction than other conditions such as gastritis or angina.

Step-by-step explanation:

The troponin T level of a client who presents with chest pain is a crucial biomarker used in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). A level of 0.6 ng/mL, as indicated in the scenario, typically suggests a myocardial infarction. Troponin levels are considered elevated when they are higher than the normal reference range, and in the context provided, such a measurement is indicative of heart muscle damage and is a significant marker pointing towards the diagnosis of an MI, rather than conditions such as gastritis or angina.

Moreover, myocardial infarction can be confirmed by additional means such as electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, particularly alterations in the ST and Q waves, known as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI). Other diagnostic tests include echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests for enzymes such as creatine kinase MB. Symptoms of acute MI may include retrosternal chest pain, dyspnea, irregular heartbeat, nausea, and diaphoresis, but the presence of elevated cardiac troponin is a strong biochemical marker for MI.