High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T for Risk Stratification in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source. Issue 8 (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scheitz, Jan F.; Pare, Guillaume; Pearce, Lesly A.; Mundl, Hardi; Peacock, W. Frank; Czlonkowska, Anna; Sharma, Mukul; Nolte, Christian H.; Shoamanesh, Ashkan; Berkowitz, Scott D.; Krahn, Thomas; Endres, Matthias
• Is Part Of: Stroke. Volume 51:Issue 8(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: biomarker -- proportional hazards models -- rivaroxaban -- stroke -- troponin T; Cerebrovascular disease -- Periodicals; Cerebral circulation -- Periodicals; 616.81
• DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029628
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0039-2499

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Purpose: Optimal secondary prevention for patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) remains unknown. We aimed to assess whether high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels are associated with major vascular events and whether hs-cTnT may identify patients who benefit from anticoagulation following ESUS. Methods: Data were obtained from the biomarker substudy of the NAVIGATE ESUS trial, a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of rivaroxaban versus aspirin for secondary stroke prevention in ESUS. Patients were dichotomized at the hs-cTnT upper reference limit (14 ng/L, Gen V, Roche Diagnostics). Cox proportional hazard models were computed to explore the association between hs-cTnT, the combined cardiovascular end point (recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, systemic embolism, cardiovascular death), and recurrent ischemic stroke. Results: Among 1337 patients enrolled at 111 participating centers in 18 countries (mean age 67±9 years, 61% male), hs-cTnT was detectable in 95% and at/above the upper reference limit in 21%. During a median follow-up of 11 months, the combined cardiovascular end point occurred in 68 patients (5.0%/y, rivaroxaban 28 events, aspirin 40 events; hazard ratio, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.41–1.1]), and recurrent ischemic stroke occurred in 50 patients (4.0%/y, rivaroxaban 16 events, aspirin 34 events, hazard ratio 0.45 [95% CI, 0.25–0.81]). Annualized combined cardiovascular end point rates were 8.2% (9.5% rivaroxaban, 7.0% aspirin) for those above hs-cTnT upper reference limit and 4.8% (3.1% rivaroxaban, 6.6% aspirin) below with a significant treatment modification ( P =0.04). Annualized ischemic stroke rates were 4.7% above hs-cTnT upper reference limit and 3.9% below, with no suggestion of an interaction between hs-cTnT and treatment ( P =0.3). Conclusions: In patients with ESUS, hs-cTnT was associated with increased cardiovascular event rates. While fewer recurrent strokes occurred in patients receiving rivaroxaban, outcomes were not stratified by hs-cTn results. Our findings support using hs-cTnT for cardiovascular risk stratification but not for decision-making regarding anticoagulation therapy in patients with ESUS. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02313909. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.