Foundations and Adult Health Nursing Test Bank Related

Review Foundations and Adult Health Nursing Test Bank related questions and content

A patient is admitted with a suspected myocardial infarction. Which cardiac biomarker is most specific for myocardial injury?

  • A. Troponin
  • B. Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB)
  • C. Myoglobin
  • D. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Troponin is the most specific cardiac biomarker for myocardial injury. Troponin I and Troponin T are proteins released into the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart muscle, making them highly indicative of myocardial infarction. Troponin levels rise within a few hours of cardiac injury, peak within 24-48 hours, and can remain elevated for up to 2 weeks. Troponin is considered the gold standard biomarker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction due to its high specificity and sensitivity for cardiac injury. In contrast, Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and myoglobin are also used in diagnosing myocardial infarction but are less specific than troponin. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is primarily used in heart failure diagnosis and management, and its levels are not specific to myocardial injury.