How long will a person's troponin level remain high after a heart attack?

According to the National Institutes of Health, troponin levels may remain elevated up to two weeks after a heart attack. Most patients first experience detectably high troponin levels within six hours of having a heart attack.

The National Institute of Health names two types of proteins released after a heart attack: troponin T and troponin I. Both types of troponin are normally undetectable and are released in greater amounts depending on the severity of damage done to the heart.

Troponin levels are most often measured to see if a heart attack has occurred, but the National Institutes of Health state that troponin levels may also be used to study other causes of damage to the heart.