Cardiac troponin T as a marker of myocardial injury in a group of asphyxiated African neonates.

BACKGROUND

In caucasian newborns, troponin T (cTnT) is a specific marker for myocardial injury in perinatal asphyxia. This is the first such study in negroid neonates.

AIMS: To evaluate myocardial injury in a group of asphyxiated African newborns and determine the influence of mode of delivery on cTnT levels.

METHODS

Serum cTnT and clinical parameters in 40 asphyxiated and 40 healthy negroid neonatal controls were measured within the first 72 hours of life by chemiluminescence immune-assay. Perinatal asphyxia was assessed by APGAR score. The infants were followed up until discharge or death.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) cTnT values were significantly higher in asphyxiated infants [0.03 (0.04) ng/ml] than in healthy controls [0.01 (0.006) ng/ml, P = 0.002]. Asphyxiated infants delivered by forceps and vacuum extraction had significantly higher levels of cTnT [0.04 (0.018) ng/ml] than those born by caesarian section [0.02 (0.008) ng/ml] and by normal delivery [0.03 (0.01) ng/ml, P = 0.003]. cTnT levels were higher in infants who died (P = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

In the asphyxiated infants, mean cTnT levels were significantly higher than in controls. They were also significantly higher in those born by vacuum and forceps delivery and asphyxiated infants who died.