Amniotic fluid cardiac troponin T in pathological pregnancies with evidence of chronic fetal hypoxia.

Abstract

AIM:

To determine if prenatally measured cardiac troponin T in the amniotic fluid (Am-TnT) could be used as a marker of fetal myocardial hypoxia and necrosis in pathological pregnancy characterized by increased concentration of amniotic fluid erythropoietin (Am-EPO) as a sign of chronic fetal hypoxia.

METHOD:

We measured Am-TnT and Am-EPO in 29 pathological and 5 uncomplicated pregnancies. Samples of amniotic fluid were collected prospectively during elective amniocentesis (n=15), cesarean sections (n=17), and before elective induction of labor in two pregnancies with stillbirth. Am-TnT and Am-EPO were determined by chemiluminescent immunological method.

RESULTS:

Am-TnT was undetectable in normal pregnancies, but it was detectable in 9 of 29 amniotic fluid samples from pathological pregnancies, with a median value of 0.030 microg/L (range, 0.010-111.6 microg/L). Am-EPO values were above normal values (>11 U/L) in all pathological pregnancies. Am-EPO concentration showed positive correlation with the Am-TnT concentration (r=0.526, P=0.003). Median concentration of Am-EPO in 9 pregnancies with detectable Am-TnT was 198 U/L (range, 16-3,378 U/L). In 20 pathologic pregnancies with undetectable Am-TnT, the median concentration of Am-EPO was 39 U/L (range, 12-293 U/L). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups (P=0.051).

CONCLUSION:

Am-TnT is measurable in some pathological pregnancies with signs of fetal chronic hypoxia and myocardial involvement and could be potentially used as a biochemical marker of fetal myocardial injury.

• Authors: Vedran Stefanovic, Mikko Loukovaara
• Journal: Croatian medical journal (Croat Med J) Vol. 46 Issue 5 Pg. 801-7 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0353-9504 [Print] Croatia
• PMID: 16158475 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Troponin T
• Erythropoietin

Topics

• Amniocentesis
• Amniotic Fluid (chemistry)
• Biomarkers
• Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic (diagnosis, pathology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chronic Disease
• Erythropoietin (analysis)
• Female
• Fetal Growth Retardation (physiopathology)
• Fetal Hypoxia (diagnosis, pathology)
• Humans
• Pregnancy
• Prospective Studies
• Troponin T (analysis)