Cardiac troponin T elevation associated with transient global amnesia: another differential diagnosis of ‘troponosis’

Abstract

Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) levels can be detected in a variety of diseases with or without signs of myocardial ischaemia. Acute neurological disorders such as subarachnoid haemorrhage, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, epileptic seizures, and traumatic head injury can cause cTn elevation with and without myocardial wall motion abnormalities. We report a case of transient global amnesia with elevation and dynamic rise of highly sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) without clinical symptoms or signs of ischaemia. Cardiac work up was otherwise normal, with no signs of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease on coronary angiogram. Myocardial systolic function was also normal. In the era of highly sensitive cTn assays, dynamic elevations of cTn are seen in a number of acute conditions unrelated to myocardial ischaemia. Transient global amnesia should be added to the list of acute neurological disorders where cTn release can be present, even in the absence of stress-induced cardiomyopathy.