Abstract | INTRODUCTION: METHODS: Seventy-six children (38 boys/38 girls, mean age 22.4 months) with CHD (Group A: 31 with atrial septal defect [ASD], 23 with ventricular septal defect [VSD], 8 with ASD and VSD, 14 with patent ductus arteriosus [PDA]) and 34 healthy children (group B) were studied. BNP was measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay in all children. The amount of shunt (the ratio of pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow: Qp/Qs) was measured using Doppler velocimetry and two-dimensional echocardiography. A haemodynamically significant left-to-right shunt was defined as Qp/Qs>1.5. Correlations were evaluated between all patient groups and healthy subjects and BNP was compared with echocardiographic data reflecting right and left ventricle volume overload. RESULTS: Thirty-four children of group A had Qp/Qs>1.5 (group A1) and 42 Qp/Qs<1.5 (group A2). BNP levels were higher in group A1 than group A2 (p=0.015), while there were no significant differences in BNP between group A2 and group B (p=0.79). BNP 24.4 pg/ml was determined as the cut-off point to identify patients with Qp/Qs>1.5. BNP values were similar among patients with ASD and VSD, but they were significantly higher in patients with PDA. BNP was positively correlated with Qp/Qs (r=0.59, p<0.001), and with the pulmonary artery velocity (r=0.27) and gradient (r=0.49), while there was a negative correlation with ejection fraction (r=-0.14). BNP levels were significantly higher in 10 infants with clinical signs of heart failure (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: These results, which are consistent with previous reports, suggest a possible role of BNP as an early diagnostic marker of the significance of shunt in children with CHD.
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Authors | Maria Kavga, George Varlamis, Andreas Giannopoulos, Kyriaki Papadopoulou-Legbelou, Sotirios Varlamis, Georgios Bompotis, Vassiliki Koulourida, Nikolaos Nikolaides |
Journal | Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellenike kardiologike epitheorese
(Hellenic J Cardiol)
2013 May-Jun
Vol. 54
Issue 3
Pg. 192-8
ISSN: 2241-5955 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 23685656
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers
- Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Biomarkers
(blood)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Echocardiography
- Echocardiography, Doppler
- Female
- Heart Defects, Congenital
(blood, diagnostic imaging)
- Hemodynamics
(physiology)
- Humans
- Infant
- Male
- Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
(blood)
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