Time to treatment and acute coronary syndromes: bridging the gap in rapid decision making

Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2010:11 Suppl 2:S45-50. doi: 10.3909/ricm11S2S0001.

Abstract

The role of cardiac biomarkers in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of patients with chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has continued to evolve. Although it is clear that troponin (Tn) measurement provides independent prognostic information in patients with suspected ACS, it is less well established that early B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement provides additional incremental prognostic information above and beyond electrocardiography and Tn measurement. It is useful to identify patients at high risk for adverse events through measurement of Tn and BNP levels so that timely treatment decisions can be made.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / blood
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / complications
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / mortality
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / therapy
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chest Pain / blood
  • Chest Pain / diagnosis*
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Chest Pain / mortality
  • Chest Pain / therapy
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / blood*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Troponin / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Troponin
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain