Two weeks after a myocardial infarction, which blood work is elevated?

• A. CK-MB
• B. D-dimer
• C. Troponin
• D. Glucose

Answer: (C)

After an MI, cardiac biomarkers rise as heart muscle is injured. The key here is how long each marker stays elevated. Troponin I or T is the most specific marker for myocardial injury and remains detectable for up to about two weeks, sometimes a bit longer, which makes it the best indicator two weeks after the event. CK-MB rises earlier and typically returns to normal within a few days, so it would not be elevated that far out. D-dimer reflects coagulation and fibrin breakdown, not a direct measure of myocardial injury, and glucose is not a cardiac-specific injury marker. So the sustained elevation two weeks after an MI points to troponin as the marker most likely still elevated.