Relationship between echocardiographic findings and plasma cardiac troponin I level in suspected cases of infective endocarditis according to the modified Duke criteria

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography is recommended when infective endocarditis (IE) is suspected, but its indications as a non-invasive examination remain unestablished.

[Methods] In suspected cases of IE according to the modified Duke criteria, the relationship between the definitive diagnosis of IE by echocardiography and cardiac troponin I (cTn I) level was retrospectively investigated. [Results] The subjects were 10 patients. Of 6 patients definitively diagnosed with IE, 5 were positive, and all patients not definitively diagnosed were negative (p=0.0476). All patients with left-sided native valve endocarditis were positive (p=0.0079). [Discussion/Conclusion] A significant correlation exists between a definitive diagnosis of IE and the cTn I level.