Which of the following is a cardiac biomarker that may be elevated in PE?

Which of the following is a cardiac biomarker that may be elevated in PE?

• A. Troponin
• B. D-Dimer
• C. BNP
• D. ABG

Answer: (A)

When a pulmonary embolism suddenly increases the right ventricle’s afterload, the heart can suffer injury from the strain and potential ischemia. This releases troponin I or T into the bloodstream, making it a cardiac biomarker that may be elevated in PE. Elevated troponin in this context signals myocardial injury due to right-sided strain and is associated with worse prognosis, helping with risk stratification. D-dimer is a marker of fibrin breakdown used to help diagnose PE but isn’t a cardiac injury marker. BNP reflects ventricular stretch and can rise with right-heart strain but isn’t as specific for myocardial injury as troponin. ABG is a gas analysis test, not a cardiac biomarker.

When a pulmonary embolism suddenly increases the right ventricle’s afterload, the heart can suffer injury from the strain and potential ischemia. This releases troponin I or T into the bloodstream, making it a cardiac biomarker that may be elevated in PE. Elevated troponin in this context signals myocardial injury due to right-sided strain and is associated with worse prognosis, helping with risk stratification. D-dimer is a marker of fibrin breakdown used to help diagnose PE but isn’t a cardiac injury marker. BNP reflects ventricular stretch and can rise with right-heart strain but isn’t as specific for myocardial injury as troponin. ABG is a gas analysis test, not a cardiac biomarker.