Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a lack of evidence about the predictive role of serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) on the long-term adverse outcomes of acute type B aortic dissection (aTBAD) patients after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). In this study, we identified whether cTnI was an independent risk factor of 5-year adverse outcomes for aTBAD patients after TEVAR. METHODS: We reviewed consecutive aTBAD patients without previous heart disease who were admitted for TEVAR. The total study population was divided into the cTnI(+) group (≥0.03 ng/mL) and the cTnI(-) group (<0.03 ng/mL) according to the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The differences in clinical characteristics, operative details and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in age and male prevalence between the two groups. Compared with the cTnI(-) group, the incidence of chronic kidney disease was higher in patients with cTnI ≥0.03 ng/mL. In addition, the cTnI(+) group presented with more frequent premature beats and non-myocardial-infarction ST-T segment changes. In terms of laboratory examinations, white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, serum D-dimer and serum fibrin degradation products showed an increase in the cTnI(+) group, while lymphocyte and platelet counts showed a decrease in these patients. Patients with elevated cTnI suffered from increased risks of 5-year aortic-related adverse events (hazard ratio, HR = 1.822, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.094-3.035; p = 0.021) and all-cause mortality (HR = 4.009, 95% CI: 2.175-7.388; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among aTBAD patients without previous heart disease, preoperative elevated cTnI identified patients at an increased risk of long-term adverse outcomes after TEVAR.