Troponin T level in children with acute chest diseases and respiratory distress

Background Respiratory distress owing to pulmonary causes is the most common cause of visits to the pediatric emergency departments. Cardiac complications are reported to occur in acute respiratory tract diseases such as myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia. Serum troponin T is a cardiospecific and sensitive biomarker with a diagnostic and prognostic significance for myocardial damage. Objective The aim was to detect cardiac affection using troponin T in children with acute chest diseases and correlate it with Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS). Patients and methods A case-control study was conducted, including 150 children with respiratory distress selected from the emergency department (6 month to 12 years of age) and 100 (age and sex matched) controls. Respiratory distress severity was clinically assessed using PRESS. Cardiac troponin T levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared with controls. Troponin T levels were correlated with PRESS. Results Mean troponin T serum levels had significantly higher levels in children with respiratory distress compared with controls (mean value 0.02468 +/- 0.01310 and 0.02171 +/- 0.00663 ng/ml, respectively). It correlated positively with PRESS score, especially in patients with pneumonia. Conclusion Serum troponin T level correlates with PRESS, and cardiac injury can worsen respiratory distress in children with acute chest diseases, especially in pneumonia.