Prognostic value and determinants of high sensitive cardiac Troponin levels in patients with a systemic right ventricle: insights from the SERVE-Trial

Abstract Background The prognostic value of high-sensitivity cardiac Troponin T (hs-cTnT) in patients with a systemic left ventricle is well-established. However, the determinants and prognostic value of hs-cTnT among patients with a systemic right ventricle (sRV) are largely unknown. Purpose We aimed to assessed the determinants and prognostic value of hs-cTnT among patients with sRV. Methods Ninety-eight patients from the randomized-controlled SERVE-trial were included. The correlation between baseline hs-cTnT concentrations and bi-ventricular volumes and function quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance was assessed by adjusted linear regression models. The prognostic value of hs-cTnT and other established prognostic markers were assessed by adjusted cox proportional hazards models, survival analysis and c-statistics. The primary outcome was the composite of clinically relevant arrhythmia, hospitalization for heart failure or all-cause death. Results Median age [interquartile range, IQR] was 39 [32, 48] years and 32% were female. Median hs-cTnT concentration was 7 [IQR, 4-11] ng/L. Coefficients of determination for the relationship between hs-cTnT concentrations and right ventricular end-systolic volume index, (RVESVi) and ejection fraction (RVEF) were +0.368, p=0.046; and -0.381, p=0.018, respectively. The sex and aged adjusted hazard ratio [95%, confidence interval, CI] of hs-cTnT at 2- and 4-times the reference level (5 ng/l) for the primary outcome were 2.89 [1.14-7.29] and 4.42 [1.21-16.15], respectively (Figure 1). Patients with hs-cTnT concentrations ≤7 ng/L (median) had better event-free survival (89% vs. 67%, p=0.004). The prognostic performance quantified by the C-statistics [95%, CI] for age and sex adjusted models based on hs-cTnT, RVEF, and peak VO2 predicted (%) were comparable: 0.71 [0.61-0.82], 0.72 [0.59-0.84], and 0.71 [0.59-0.83], respectively (Figure 2). Conclusion Hs-cTnT concentration was significantly correlated with RVEF and RVESVi in patients with a sRV. The prognostic accuracy of this biomarker was comparable to that of the current gold standards (RVEF and peak VO2 predicted).Figure 1Figure 2