Periprocedural myocardial enzyme elevation: prognostic implications for current practice.

With the high volume of yearly cardiovascular revascularization procedures, periprocedural myocardial enzyme elevation remains an important topic. Although periprocedural myocardial enzyme elevation has been used in the universal definition of myocardial infarction, most hospitals do not routinely measure postprocedural cardiac enzymes. Multiple studies have illustrated the prognostic implications of such biomarker elevations on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes (especially in the short term), yet the question of routine marker assessments remains vexing. Heterogeneity in these studies has caused debate to continue regarding the appropriate cutoff levels, choice of biomarker assay, and situations in which markers should be measured. Along with the clinical implications of clarifying these issues, we acknowledge the impact on the management and interpretation of our large-scale, practice-altering clinical trials. In this review, we highlight significant concepts in the diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical impact of periprocedural myocardial enzyme elevation.