title: Plasma neuropeptide Y and catecholamines in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac operations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to assess the sympathoadrenal response in pediatric patients undergoing repair of congenital cardiac defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma catecholamine (norepinephrine and epinephrine) and neuropeptide Y concentrations were quantified before and after cardiopulmonary bypass to assess the response to cardiopulmonary bypass. To determine the response to aortic occlusion, levels of plasma catecholamines and neuropeptide Y were measured at the time of and immediately after release of the aortic crossclamp.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During cardiopulmonary bypass, no significant change in levels of plasma norepinephrine (n = 43), epinephrine (n = 37), or neuropeptide Y (n = 46) was observed. Aortic occlusion induced a significant increase in plasma neuropeptide Y, but not in catecholamines. There was a greater increase in plasma neuropeptide Y in children older than age 1 year than in those younger than 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma neuropeptide Y may be a useful marker of sympathetic nervous system activity. Children younger than age 1 year showed a lesser sympathetic response compared with the response in older children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Schechter
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quaegebeur
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vulliemoz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers; D001831:Body Temperature; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002395:Catecholamines; D009478:Neuropeptide Y