title: Serial N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide measurement as a predictor of significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants beyond the first week of life.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the role of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration as a predictor of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very low birth weight infants beyond the first week of life. This was a prospective observational study; newborns with a birth weight < 1500 g were eligible for enrolment. Enrolled infants were screened by echocardiography on day seven of life for the presence of a PDA. This was paired with a blood sample for NT-proBNP level. Echocardiography and NT-proBNP levels were repeated at weekly intervals. The primary outcome was correlation between PDA and NT-proBNP level and between measurements of PDA significance and NT-proBNP. Sixty-nine neonates were enrolled following parental consent. The mean birth weight was 1119 ± 257 g and mean gestational age was 28.6 ± 2.6 weeks. Median NT-proBNP level on day seven was 11469 ng/l in infants with a PDA vs. 898 ng/l in infants without a PDA (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant correlation between PDA diameter and NT-proBNP level on day seven, day 14 and day 21.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP concentration is significantly increased in infants with a PDA and correlates well with PDA diameter in the first three weeks of life.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, jletshwiti@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Johannes Buca
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Letshwiti
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sirc
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Kelly
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miletin
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain