title: Aminoterminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) Levels for Monitoring Interventions in Paediatric Cardiac Patients with Stenotic Lesions.
abstract: Background. Serum concentration of NT-proBNP correlates well with the severity of cardiac disease in adults. Few studies have been performed on the applicability of NT-proBNP for monitoring children with congenital heart disease. Objective. To assess the potential of NT-proBNP for monitoring the success of interventions in children with stenotic cardiac lesions. Methods. NT-proBNP was measured in 42 children aged 1 day to 17 years (y) before and 6 to 12 weeks after surgical or interventional correction of obstructive lesions of the heart. Comparison is made with the clinical status and echocardiographic data of the child. Results. NT-proBNP levels (median 280, range 10-263,000 pg/mL) were above the reference value in all but 6 patients (pts) prior to the intervention. Higher levels were found in more compromised patients. The 35 children with clinical improvement after the procedure showed a decline of their NT-proBNP level in all but 4 patients, whose levels remained unchanged. Five patients with unchanged gradients despite a therapeutic intervention also demonstrated unchanged NT-proBNP levels after the intervention. Thus, the success rate of the procedure correlated well to clinical and echocardiographic findings. Conclusion. NT-proBNP can be used to assess the efficiency of an intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Ruhr University Bochum, North Rhine Westphalia, 32545, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Welisch
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kleesiek
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norozi
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filler