title: Brain natriuretic peptide as a cardiotoxicity biomarker in children with hematological malignancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of our study was to evaluate BNP as early cardiotoxicity biomarker after completion of chemotherapy in twenty children with hematological malignancies at diagnosis (t=0) and after completion of intensive chemotherapy (t=1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data, underlying disease, cumulative anthracyclines dose, measurement of serum BNP and evaluation of systolic function of left ventricle with ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (FS) in both times . Pathological values for EF and FS were found in 4 (20%) and 1 (5%) patient at t=1, while respective values were normal at diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BNP values at t=0 were 59.09±19.95 pg/mL and differ significantly from values at t=1 (153.22±29.14 pg/mL) (P=0.04). Mean value of EF also differed significantly (75.42±4.11% vs. 69.87±10.51%, P=0.04). No statistic difference was found regarding FS values at both (P=0.102).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present data indicate that anthracyclines related cardiotoxicity is registered in children with hematological malignancies and BNP represents a useful biomarker of myocardial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Second Pediatric Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. atriagia@auth.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tragiannidis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dokos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsotoulidou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Pana
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamouzis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain