NCLEX Question of the Day
Physiological Adaptation QID 77
A patient is diagnosed with a myocardial infarction (MI). The healthcare provider orders a cardiac enzyme panel. Which enzyme would the nurse expect to be elevated initially following an MI?
Explanation
Troponin is a cardiac muscle protein that's released into the bloodstream when there's damage to the heart muscle, such as during a myocardial infarction (MI). Elevated levels of troponin are a highly sensitive and specific indicator of myocardial injury, making it a crucial diagnostic marker for MI. The other enzymes listed are not specifically associated with cardiac muscle damage and would not typically be elevated following an MI.
To put it more simply, troponin is a protein found in the heart. When the heart muscle is damaged, like in a heart attack, this protein enters the bloodstream. High levels of troponin in the blood are a strong sign of heart damage, which makes it a key tool for diagnosing heart attacks. Other enzymes mentioned don't specifically relate to heart damage and usually don't increase during a heart attack.
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