Key result
In healthy Nigerian children aged 5-17 years, the median serum cardiac troponin T was 5.1 ng/L, with a 99th percentile upper reference limit of 7.2 ng/L.
Why the study?
Cardiac troponin T reference values were unknown in Nigeria, where pediatric normative values may be better than adult-derived values.
Cross-Sectional (n=132)
Establishing a pediatric-specific cTnT reference interval (99th percentile of 7.2 ng/L) in healthy Nigerian children may prevent under-treatment of myocardial injury compared to using adult-derived values.
Reports lower cTnT 99th percentile in Nigerian children; extends reference data but leaves open need for outcome validation.
Background: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a biomarker for myocardial injury, reference values is unknown in Nigeria. The establishment and use of pediatric cTnT normative values may be better than the use of adult-derived cTnT values. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine cTnT reference interval among healthy Nigerian children. Methods: One hundred and thirty-two healthy children aged 5–17 years were consecutively recruited over a 9-month period after meeting the inclusion criteria. Blood was taken and the sera analyzed for cTnT by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method using high-sensitive assay. Data were analyzed using RefVal software and SPSS version 23.0. Results: The male: female ratio was 1.03:1 with median (interquartile range) serum cTnT of 5.1 (5.0–5.1) ng/L. The reference interval has a lower reference limit (2.5 th percentile) of 5.0 (5.0–5.0) ng/L and upper reference limit (97.5 th percentile) of 6.8 (5.7–7.2) ng/L. The 99 th percentile of cTnT was 7.2 ng/L. Serum cTnT had weak association with age (r s [130] = 0.19, P = 0.033) but no significant relationship with body mass index-for-age-and-sex, sex and social class. Conclusion: This cTnT reference interval can be beneficial in low-middle-income settings who lack indigenous reference intervals. We recommend its use for the identification of myocardial injury among children instead of adult intervals to prevent under-treatment. Stakeholders are encouraged to make cTnT affordable to the less privileged.
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Nlemadim et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=132). Cardiac troponin T measurement was evaluated on Cardiac troponin T reference interval. In healthy Nigerian children aged 5-17 years, the median serum cardiac troponin T was 5.1 ng/L, with a 99th percentile upper reference limit of 7.2 ng/L.
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