Am J Perinatol 2004; 21(3): 147-152
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-823775
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Fetal Cardiac Troponin I in Relation to Intrapartum Events and Umbilical Artery pH

Fionnuala McAuliffe1 , Katrina Mears1 , Sean Fleming2 , Helen Grimes3 , John J. Morrison1
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland
  • 2Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland
  • 3Department of Biochemistry, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 April 2004 (online)

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The objective of this study was to measure fetal cardiac troponin I in umbilical artery blood in relation to intrapartum events and umbilical artery pH. Umbilical artery blood samples were obtained after delivery from 110 infants and cardiac troponin I was measured. The onset of labor, mode of delivery, presence of meconium, and umbilical artery pH were examined in relation to cardiac troponin I. The median cardiac troponin I level was 0.03 ng/mL (range, 0.03 to 0.881 ng/mL). Neonates with a cardiac troponin I level above the normal range had a lower umbilical artery pH when compared with those neonates with a normal cardiac troponin I level (p = 0.005). No relationship between the following parameters and cardiac troponin I was observed: gestational age, parity, presence of labor, meconium staining, mode of delivery, birth weight, and Apgar scores. Fetal cardiac troponin I shows little variation at birth. Increased levels of cardiac troponin I are associated with a lower umbilical artery pH.