Naslov
Heterophile antibodies, false-positive troponin, and acute coronary syndrome: a case report indicating a pitfall in clinical practice

Autori
Lakušić, Nenad ; Sopek Merkas, Ivana ; Lucinger, Daren ; Mahović, Darija

Izvornik
European heart journal. Case reports (2514-2119) 5 (2021), 2; Ytab018, 5

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, stručni

Ključne riječi
heterophile antibodies ; troponin ; false positive ; acute coronary syndrome ; case report

Sažetak
Background Heterophile antibodies are one of the most common causes of false-positive troponin. Case summary We report a case of a 53-year-old woman with false-positive troponin elevation and a clinical presentation understood and treated as non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. Because of chronic basal elevation of troponin (at a ‘plateau’ level) and chest pain, the patient underwent several invasive coronary angiograms until false-positive increase of troponin due to heterophile antibodies was suspected. Borderline stenosis of a left circumflex coronary artery found on first coronary angiogram was a coincidental finding and heterophile antibodies in the patient’s serum were confirmed. Discussion This interesting case report aims to remind the clinicians about the possibility of false- positive troponin level due to laboratory analytical interference caused by heterophile antibodies. In this case, it is important to suspect false-positive troponin elevation, even when coronary artery disease is found. This rare and less mentioned and/or recognized cause of troponin elevation may lead to unnecessary invasive diagnostics and aggressive treatment of patients.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Integrativna bioetika (prirodne, tehničke, biomedicina i zdravstvo, biotehničke, društvene, humanističke znanosti), Biotehnologija u biomedicini (prirodno područje, biomedicina i zdravstvo, biotehničko područje)

POVEZANOST RADA