Finding a biomarker to predict patent ductus arteriosus in preterm babies

Background: Few studies have evaluated the relationship between the presence of PDA and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels; however, the results are conflicting. The present study aimed to compare blood cTnT levels among preterm neonates with and without PDA.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Iranian Hospital in 2021. For all included neonates, echocardiography examination was performed on admission time. According to the clinical presentation and echocardiography findings, preterm neonates were divided into the case (with PDA) and control (without PDA) groups. A blood test was also performed for all participants to detect levels of plasma cTnT. Finally, the levels of plasma cTnI (ng/ml) were compared between the case and control groups.

Results: Totally 36 neonates (12 with PDA and 24without PDA) aged 1.972±0.696 days entered the study. The mean neonatal Troponin T level was 116.352±83.470 ng/ml. The results have shown no significant difference between the groups regarding the means of Troponin level (124.506±113.138 and 112.275±66.546; P=0.476). The results have indicated that there were significant and inverse correlations between the cTnT level with the 1^st (Correlation Coefficient= -0.450; P=0.006) and 5^th (Correlation Coefficient=-0.532; P=0.001) minutes Apgar Scores. This relationship was also observed between the mean of TnT level and maternal gravidity (Correlation Coefficient= -0.356; P=0.033).

Conclusion: The results of the present study delineate no correlation between the presence of PDA and increased blood cTnT levels in preterm neonates. While low Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes as well as maternal gravidity could significantly change the levels of cardiac troponin T levels.