The relationship between fetal distress and umbilical venous troponin T during labor

For many years, electrocardiogram have been used to diagnose fetal distress around childbirth. If the heart cells are damaged, troponin T is released. Few studies have been performed about the relationship between abnormality of fetal heart rate and troponin T. So, this study was performed with aim to determine the relationship between fetal distress and umbilical venous troponin T level (utTl). This case-control study was conducted on 80 neonates in Zanjan Ayatolah Mousavi hospital in 2016. The neonates were compared in two groups of 40 cases with Fetal heart rate abnormalities and control group. utTl was measured using a kit (Bioassay Technology biology) and Elisa technique with sensitivity of 2.54 ng / L. The demographic and obstetric information were recorded. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22), and independent and paired t-test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. utTl of fetal distress group was 531.04 ± 499.55 ng/l and was significantly higher than control group (187.47 ± 59.66 ng/l) (p<0.001). utTl in the early deceleration was the lowest and in the variable deceleration was the highest, but it was not significantly different (p= 0.195). In neonates with abnormal fetal ECG, the troponin level of the umbilical cord blood was significantly higher, indicating that abnormalities of fetal heart rate during labor may cause neonatal heart damage.