Cardiac troponin T levels in umbilical cord blood

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine cardiac troponin T concentrations in umbi lical cord plasma from normal and complicated pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: At the time of delivery, umbilical cord arterial and venous s amples 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 t o magnesium sulfate was associated with an elevated cardiac troponin T leve l (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 clinic al significance are unknown. Characterization of fetal and neonatal troponi n T requires further study.