[A preliminary investigation of relationship between serum apelin level and pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease].
OBJECTIVE
To preliminarily investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-six children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgical treatment were enrolled as subjects. The serum level of apelin was determined before surgery and at 7 days after surgery. The ratio of pulmonary artery systolic pressure to aortic systolic pressure (Pp/Ps) was calculated before extracorporeal circulation. According to the Pp/Ps value, patients were classified into non-pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) group, mild PAH group, moderate PAH group, and severe PAH group. Pulmonary artery mean pressure was estimated by echocardiography at 7 days after surgery.


RESULTS
The non-PAH group had the highest serum level of apelin before and after surgery, followed by the mild PAH group, moderate PAH group, and severe PAH group (P<0.05). All groups had significantly increased serum levels of apelin at 7 days after surgery (P<0.05). The serum level of apelin was negatively correlated with pulmonary artery pressure before surgery (r=-0.51, P<0.05) and at 7 days after surgery (r=-0.54, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in serum apelin level is associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease. The significance of serum apelin in predicting the development and degree of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease deserves further studies.
Cardiovascular Center, Shenzhen Children's Hospital of Chinese Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518026, China. mcxsm@163.com.
Chao
C
Ma
Ding-Rong
DR
Shen
Qing
Q
Zhang
Yi-Qun
YQ
Ding
Yuan-Xiang
YX
Wang
Le
L
Peng
Bao-Ying
BY
Meng
Yun-Xing
YX
Ti
D000073861:Apelin; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*
C115436:APLN protein, human; D000073861:Apelin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins