title: Cardiac troponin T as a marker of myocardial injury in a group of asphyxiated African neonates.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health,University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria. sadohehi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Sadoh
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Eregie
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D020107:Troponin T / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020107:Troponin T