ST elevation with rising troponin indicates which diagnosis?

ST elevation with rising troponin indicates which diagnosis?

• A. NSTEMI
• B. Unstable angina
• C. Aortic dissection
• D. STEMI

Answer: (D)

ST elevation with rising troponin points to a STEMI, an acute transmural myocardial infarction from a likely coronary occlusion. The ST elevation on the ECG reflects injury across the full thickness of the heart wall, and the rising troponin confirms actual myocardial necrosis. In NSTEMI, troponin is elevated but there is no ST elevation, indicating subendocardial ischemia. Unstable angina can have ischemic symptoms without troponin elevation, so no myocardial necrosis occurs. Aortic dissection isn’t defined by this pattern of ST elevation with troponin rise. So the combination described is best interpreted as STEMI.

ST elevation with rising troponin points to a STEMI, an acute transmural myocardial infarction from a likely coronary occlusion. The ST elevation on the ECG reflects injury across the full thickness of the heart wall, and the rising troponin confirms actual myocardial necrosis. In NSTEMI, troponin is elevated but there is no ST elevation, indicating subendocardial ischemia. Unstable angina can have ischemic symptoms without troponin elevation, so no myocardial necrosis occurs. Aortic dissection isn’t defined by this pattern of ST elevation with troponin rise. So the combination described is best interpreted as STEMI.