Cardiac troponin T levels in umbilical cord blood.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine cardiac troponin T concentrations in umbilical cord plasma from normal and complicated pregnancies.


METHODS
At the time of delivery, umbilical cord arterial and venous samples were collected from 209 neonates, and cardiac troponin T levels were measured by immunoassay. Comparisons of clinical factors were made between neonates with normal and elevated cardiac troponin T levels. Significance was deemed present at P <.05.


RESULTS
Twelve neonates had elevated cardiac troponin T levels. Exposure to magnesium sulfate was associated with an elevated cardiac troponin T level (relative risk, 33.2; 95% confidence interval, 7.7-143).


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac troponin T levels were elevated in neonates exposed to magnesium sulfate in utero. The explanation of this finding and its clinical significance are unknown. Characterization of fetal and neonatal troponin T requires further study.
Shelton
S D
SD
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Fouse
B L
BL
Holleman
C M
CM
Sedor
F A
FA
Herbert
W N
WN
D000328:Adult; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood*
D020107:Troponin T; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate