Quantitative analysis of troponin I serum values in patients with acute cholecystitis.

The diagnosis and staging of acute cholecystitis, upon a lot of diagnostic methods and some scoring systems, is still a great clinical problem. The aim of the study was to investigate if serum Troponin I is elevated in patients with acute cholecystitis. Following informed consent, 65 patients with clinical and laboratory signs of acute cholecystitis were enrolled. All patients had measured serum Troponin I level and an abdominal ultrasound was done before definitive treatment was performed. Increased serum Troponin I level was found in most patients with severe form of acute cholecystitis (p < 0.00001). It reached sensitivity of 94.5% and specificity of 57.1% of this test. In multiple regression analysis Troponin I significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the serum aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0.27), gamma-glutamyl transferase (r = 0.25) and gallbladder wall (> 6 mm) thickness (r = 0.58). Our study confirms that in most patients with severe and acute cholecystitis, serum Troponin I is increased. Troponin I level is in a lower range than it would be in patients with cardiac muscle damage or necrosis. Measuring serum Troponin I is a fast, reliable and widely performed test that could, with other routinely measured parameters, help in early diagnosis of the severe form of acute cholecystitis.

Late diagnosis of Marfan syndrome with fatal outcome in a young male patient: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Marfan syndrome is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue that affects many organ systems. However, the most serious complication in patients with Marfan syndrome is progressive aortic root dilation, which may lead to aortic dissection, rupture or aortic regurgitation. Prevention of these life threatening complications is of major importance. CASE PRESENTATION: We report here a case of a 34-year-old, Caucasian male diagnosed for the first time with Marfan syndrome. He required medical attention due to his chest pain that resulted as a consequence of strenuous physical effort. Medical examinations revealed severe aortic root enlargement and aortic intramural hematoma. Patient ended-up fatally during open heart surgery. CONCLUSION: It is very important to recognize on time Marfan syndrome, as preventive actions that should be undertaken can avoid its serious consequences.