Determination of levels of cardiac troponins between asphyxiated and normal neonates in Enugu

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the most common causes of mortality among neonates. Many laboratory investigations can help detect cardiac injury. However, there is now a shift towards using the novel cardiac biomarkers. The study aimed to compare the levels of cardiac troponins in neonates with perinatal asphyxia with those of normal neonates in this region and to correlate the levels of the troponins with the severity of asphyxia. The study was conducted in two teaching hospitals: The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, and the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu. It was a cross-sectional study conducted over a twelve-month period. Data were analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The results showed that the mean serum of cardiac Troponin I level was higher in the case subjects: 1.6 ± 0.2 ng/ml; compared with that of controls: 0.8 ± 0.7 ng/ml. This was statistically significant (p = 0.004). The mean serum of cardiac troponin T value was higher in subjects; 92.7± 47.9 pg/ml; compared with controls; 74.5 ± 11.0 pg/ml (0.003). Also, using Pearson’s correlation plot, it was demonstrated that there was a negative correlation between cardiac troponin levels and Apgar score. However, while the correlation between cardiac Troponin I and Apgar score was significant (p = 0.019), there was no significant correlation between Apgar score and cardiac Troponin T (p = 0.384). There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of cardiac troponins between asphyxiated and normal neonates.