Advanced Patient Assessment Practice Exam

Elevation of troponin is associated with what disorder?

1. Trauma

2. Hepatitis

3. Pulmonary embolism

4. Acute myocardial infarction

The correct answer is: Acute myocardial infarction

Troponin is a protein that is released into the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart muscle. The elevation of troponin levels specifically indicates myocardial injury, which is most commonly associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or a heart attack. During an AMI, the blood supply to a part of the heart is blocked, leading to the death of heart muscle cells and the subsequent release of troponin into circulation. While trauma, hepatitis, and pulmonary embolism can also lead to elevated troponin levels, the definitive association of troponin primarily highlights damage to cardiac tissue. The specificity of troponin elevation for diagnosing AMI makes it a crucial biomarker in acute care settings for identifying patients experiencing heart attacks. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the connection between troponin elevation and acute myocardial infarction, which is imperative for timely diagnosis and management of patients presenting with chest pain or other cardiac symptoms.