Early Troponin I Levels in Newborns Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and Residual Encephalopathy at Discharge

Objective Elevation of serum troponin I has been reported in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), but it is diagnostic and prognostic utility for newborn under 6 hours is not clear. Study the predictive value of early serum troponin I levels in newborns with HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for persistent residual encephalopathy (RE) at discharge. Study Design Retrospective chart review of newborns admitted with diagnosis of HIE to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for TH over a period of 3 years. Troponin levels were drawn with the initial set of admission laboratories while initiating TH. Newborns were followed up during hospital course and stratified into three groups based on predischarge examination and their electrical encephalography and cranial MRI findings: Group 1: no RE, Group 2: mild-to-moderate RE, and Group 3: severe RE or needing assisted medical technology or death. Demographic and clinical characteristics including troponin I levels were compared in each group. Results Out of 104 newborns who underwent TH, 65 infants were in Group 1, 26 infants in Group 2, and 13 newborns in Group 3. All groups were comparable in demographic characteristics. There was a significant elevation of serum troponin in group 2 (mild-to-moderate RE) and group 3 (severe RE) as compared with group 1 (no RE). Receiver operator curve analysis for any RE (groups 2 and 3) compared with group 1 (no RE as control) had 0.88 (0.81-0.95) area under curve, p < 0.001. A cut-off level of troponin I >= 0.12 mu g/L had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 78% for diagnosis of any RE, positive predictive value of 68%, and a negative predictive value of 84%. Conclusion In newborns undergoing TH for HIE, the elevation of troponin within 6 hours of age predicts high risk of having RE at discharge.