Clinical trial will test 150 patients for enzyme that predicts heart attacks

— will be part of a large-scale clinical trial spread across 24 countries and sponsored by the Canada-based Population Health Research Foundation.

The clinical trial follows a 2014 study, which found that elevated levels of thetroponin T enzyme after non-cardiac surgeries could predict a Myocardial Infarction (MI) — commonly known as a heart attack —within 30 days of being operated upon. Researchers, including eight from India, termed this correlation ‘Myocardial Injury after Non-cardiac Surgery (MINS)’

“The initial study proved that an elevated Troponin T level, independently predicted 30-day mortality in patients over 50,” said Dr Alben Sigamani, associate professor, group head - clinical research, Narayana Health, Bengaluru who is part of the trial.

The study was accepted by the World Heart Federation, which appealed to anaesthetists and cardiologists to check for MINS.

“There are no treatments or guidelines available for MINS, but evidence shows that taking a blood-thinner can prevent some of the deaths, both in the short and long-term,” he said.

Currently participants are being recruited to be a part of the study that will test the effects of

two drugs likely to prevent mortality and cardiac complications in patients who have MINS.