[Sensitive troponin: A new definition of acute myocardial infarction?].

Cardiac troponins, which are structural proteins unique to the heart, are sensitive and specific biochemical markers of myocardial damage. The measurement of cardiac troponins plays a central role for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Introduction of high-sensitivity troponin increases sensitivity to identify patients with acute myocardial infarction. It can substantially improve the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, particularly in patients with a recent onset of chest pain, and provide better prognostic information.