Fetal cardiac troponin I in relation to intrapartum events and umbilical artery pH

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.