Background: Cardiac troponins are markers for myocardial injury. Sepsis and septic shock can cause myocardial injury. The significance of elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in septic shock was evaluated in the present study.
Material and Method: Serum levels of cTnT were measured in 40 patients with septic shock from Rajavithi Hospital during a nine-month period between December 2004 and August 2005. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded by clinical presentation, electrocardiography, and measurement of creatine kinase.
Results: The levels of cardiac troponin T were elevated in 17 patients (42.5%) and not elevated in 23 patients (57.5%). There were 28 deaths (70%) and 12 patients (30%) survived and were discharged from the hospital. cTnT-positive patients had a significantly higher mortality rate (17 of 17 patients in the cTnT-positive group and 11 of 23 patients in the cTnT-negative group; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Elevated cTnT levels may be a marker for severity of illness and higher mortality in patients with septic shock.

Keyword : Cardiac troponin T, Septic shock, Prognosis