Radiofrequency catheter ablations (RFA) are the curative treatment of choice for many cardiac arrhythmias. These procedures are accompanied with localized small endomyocardial necrosis, necessary to abolish the arrhythmia. This study was designed to investigate the role of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB mass) in the assessment of myocardial injury in the course of 24 hours. The plasma cTnT and CK-MB mass levels were studied in 11 consecutive patients (mean age 42yrs, SD ± 13y) undergoing radiofrequency ablation for atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia or accessory pathways. Post-ablation mean plasma cTnT concentration was significantly increased throughout the time of observation. The peak cTnT level (0.70 ng/ml, SD 0.28 ng/ml, vs. normal level of less 0.1 ng/ml, p < 0.001) was achieved 6 hours after radiofrequency ablation. The post-ablation plasma CK-MB mass level rose above normal in all patients. Six hours after the procedure the plasma CK-MB mass reached the peak level (6.89 ng/ml, SD 5.93 ng/ml, vs. normal value < 5 ng/ml, n.s.). This study showed that the plasma troponin T concentration is a very sensitive biochemical marker for the detection of myocardial damage induced by radiofrequency ablation.

        Key words: troponin T, CK-MB mass, radiofrequency ablation.