Cardiac troponin I in asphyxiated neonates.

BACKGROUND

Cardiac troponins T (cTnT) and I (cTnI) are well-established markers in detecting myocardial ischemic damage in adults. Perinatal asphyxia is associated with cardiac dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate serum concentrations of cTnI in asphyxiated neonates and to investigate whether cTnI is correlated with the traditional markers of asphyxia.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 13 asphyxiated neonates (umbilical artery pH<7.18 and either a 1-min Apgar score<4 or a 5-min Apgar score<7) and 39 controls. Data on gestation, birth weight, sex, Apgar scores, mode of delivery, umbilical pH, creatinine, serum activity of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, and QTc interval were investigated.

RESULTS

Median (range) cTnI concentrations were significantly higher in asphyxiated neonates with respect to healthy infants: 0.36 microg/l (0.05-11) versus 0.04 microg/l (0.04-0.06); p<0.01. In asphyxiated babies, no statistically significant correlations were found between concentrations of cTnI and the other markers of asphyxia.

CONCLUSIONS

In asphyxiated neonates, cTnI concentrations are higher with respect to healthy infants, suggesting the presence of myocardial damage in this group of high-risk patients. cTnI does not correlate with the traditional markers of asphyxia.