title: Value of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide as a marker for rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
abstract: We analyzed 211 consecutive plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements in 59 pediatric heart transplant patients along with echocardiographic and right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy samples. Patients with a biopsy specimen negative for rejection had significantly lower BNP levels than those patients with a biopsy positive (p </=0.04) for rejection. BNP significantly decreased with treatment (p </=0.007). BNP levels in the first year after heart transplantation in all patients were significantly greater than BNP levels after the first year in all patients (p <0.001).
authors.affiliation: Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. clindbla@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lindblade
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Darragh
authors.forename: Randall L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Debbie J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Marcus S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schamberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain