Right ventricular function is an important prognostic factor for pulmonary embolism.1 Massive pulmonary embolism may lead to right ventricular failure, reduced left ventricular output, and even death.2 Cardiac troponins are routinely applied markers of minor and major myocardial damage in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In small case series, troponin concentrations were raised in patients with massive pulmonary embolism. 3 4 The role of troponin as a prognostic factor is, however, unclear. We assessed the association between serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T and severity of pulmonary embolism as well as the role of troponin T as a predictor of mortality.
We assessed 136 consecutive patients who were admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary care university hospital between December 1999 and November 2001 with pulmonary embolism, confirmed by computed tomography or scintigraphy. Two patients with terminal illness and seven patients admitted after cardiac arrest …
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