TROPONIN-T - IMPROVED DIAGNOSTIC-ASSESSMENT OF MYOCARDIAL DAMAGE IN CHILDHOOD

Troponin-T (cTnT) as a marker of myocardial damage is well established in adults, but not yet in children. cTnT was measured in 85 children (aged 1 day-204 months, mean 46 months). Twenty-five children were non -surgical patients, with possible myocardial damage suspected on clini cal grounds. The other 60 patients had cardiac surgery leading to a de fined myocardial damage. In these children, troponin-T (cTnT), creatin e kinase activity (CK), creatine kinase-MB activity (CK-MB), and creat ine kinase-MB-Mass (CK-MB-Mass) were measured preoperatively and 3-4 t imes during the first 55 postoperative h. Except in four children with probable preoperative myocardial damage, all troponin-T values were i n the normal range (<0.1 mu g/l). All children with intracardiac surge ry showed a postoperative increase in troponin-T. Children with extrac ardiac surgery of the great vessels showed no postoperative increase o f troponin-T. For the assessment of myocardial damage, troponin-T was more specific and more sensitive than the other markers tested, tropon in-T might significantly improve the diagnostic assessment of myocardi al damage in children.