Abstract 147

Aims - TnT represents a sensitive and specific marker of ischemic myocardial damage in adult and neonatal populations. We investigated the potential ischemic effect of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and its indomethacin treatment on the coronary vessels, by measuring TnT concentrations.

Methods - TnT levels were measured in 23 preterm infants with RDS (≤32 weeks of gestational age), 11 with indomethacin treated PDA and 12 without, at 2, 4, and 7 days after birth. An enzyme immunoassay (ELISA Troponin T, Boehringer Mannheim, Milano, Italy) was used.

Results - TnT concentrations (mean±SEM) significantly decreased from the 2nd (0.63±0.09 µg/L) and 4th (0.77±0.13µg/L) to the 7th postnatal day (0.28±0.04 µg/L)(p<0.05). No differences were found between infants with and without PDA at 2 (0.65±0.13 vs 0.61±0.14 µg/L), 4 (0.71±0.21 vs 0.87±0.16 µg/L), and 7 (0.26±0.05 vs 0.29±0.07µg/L) days of life. In infants with PDA, TnT levels did not differ before (0.65±0.14 µg/L), 2 hours (0.65±0.15 µg/L) and 48 hours (0.71±0.21 µg/L) after the first dose of indomethacin (0.2 mg/kg; Liometacen®, Chiesi, Parma, Italy) was given.

Conclusions - In preterm infants with RDS, the presence of the PDA and its indomethacin treatment are not associated with an ischemic cardiac damage detected by TnT measurements. The fall in TnT levels at 7 days of life suggests the presence of an early transient myocardial injury.