RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether the level of serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was increased in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study consisted of 265 patients with CHF and 75 healthy people. Serum cTnT was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using an Elecsys 1010 automatic analyzer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>cTnT concentration was 0.181 +/- 0.536 ng/mL in CHF patients and 0.003 +/- 0.001 ng/mL in controls (P < 0.001). Patients were categorized according to the levels of heart function and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). In the first group consisting of 105 patients with LVEF </= 35%, cTnT was 0.311 +/- 0.221 ng/mL. In the second group of 106 patients with LVEF > 35%, cTnT was 0.07 +/- 0.0 5 ng/mL (P < 0.01). In patients with NYHA class I, II, III and IV, cTnT values were 0.062 +/- 0.022 ng/mL, 0.113 +/- 0.121 mg/mL, 0.191 +/- 0.231 mg/ml and 0.384 +/- 0.211 mg/mL, respectively (class I vs class II P > 0.05, class II vs class III P < 0.01, class III vs class IV P < 0.01). A negative correlation was observed between serum cTnT concentration and LVEF in 265 patients with CHF (r = -0.493, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study shows that the level of serum cTnT is increased in patients with CHF and that the increased level indicates the severity of CHF.</p>