What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 3 Aug 2015 Answered on

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, recently my dad had chest pain and got him investigated, as per doctor ECG is normal and Cardiac Troponin T test result is week positive, for same doctor has advised to get admitted to hospital. Wanted to understand is it a blockage? if yes, what treatment is required.

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Block cannot be excluded / need further tests

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Appropriate treatment demands accurate diagnosis
And that demands further investigations…

There are no significant changes in the ECHOcardiogram.
The ECGs are not conclusive of ischemia (CAD - Coronary Artery Disease / diminished blood supply to the heart)
The enzyme is above limits. It means a very small portion of the heart muscle has perished.

Generally, the patient is admitted / the tests and ECGs are repeated after a few hours / and again after some more time. If there are no further changes, the ideal next step is to undergo catheterisation and coronary angiography – it is the only way to directly ‘see’ the block, if any – and its location, extent, severity and so on. Coronary arteriography is invasive but it is the gold standard.
If the patient is not willing, TMT with thallium isotope is the non-invasive way to evaluate ischemia / to assess the PHYSIOLOGY (function) – to see whether the blood arriving at the heart muscle / and CT angio is non-invasive study for the anatomy.

The treating doctor alone could conclude better based on total clinical picture…

Good luck
God bless you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar