Cardiac troponin levels in pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia

Summary

Pre-eclampsia is a multisystem disorder that involves vascular endothelial dysfunction and diffuse inflammatory response. The cardiac troponin (cTn-I) levels in pre-eclampsia are controversial. The objective of this study was to compare the cTn-I levels between normal pregnant women and those with severe pre-eclampsia. A total of 78 patients who underwent caesarean section were included in the study. The patients were assigned into two groups as the severe pre-eclamptic pregnant group (study group, n = 36) and normotensive pregnant group (control group, n = 42).The cTn-I levels of all patients were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. A statistically significant difference was not determined between the preoperative and postoperative cTn-I levels (p > 0.05) between the two groups. In the present study, a relation was not determined between pre-eclampsia and increased cTn-I levels. If high cTn-I levels are determined in pre-eclamptic patients, other pathologies that may cause myocardial damage should be investigated.

Keywords:

• Myocardial damage
• pre-eclampsia
• troponin