title: The role of inflammatory biomarkers in CHD-associated pulmonary hypertension in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to identify the role of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and fractalkine in CHD-associated pulmonary hypertension in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective review of 37 children with CHD-related pulmonary hypertension, 21 children with congenital heart defects, and 22 healthy children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were significantly higher in the children with CHD-related pulmonary hypertension (respectively, p=0.049 and 0.026). Serum C-reactive protein concentrations correlated negatively with ejection fraction (r=-0.609, p=0.001) and fractional shortening (r=-0.452, p=0.007) in the pulmonary hypertension group. Serum fractalkine concentrations correlated negatively with ejection fraction (r=-0.522, p=0.002) and fractional shortening (r=-0.395, p=0.021) in the children with pulmonary hypertension. Serum interleukin-6 concentrations also correlated negatively with Qs (r=-0.572, p=0.021), positively with Rs (r=0.774, p=0.001), and positively with pulmonary wedge pressure (r=0.796, p=0.006) in the pulmonary hypertension group. A cut-off value of 2.2 IU/L for C-reactive protein was able to predict pulmonary hypertension with 77.5% sensitivity and 77.5% specificity. When the cut-off point for interleukin-6 concentration was 57.5 pg/ml, pulmonary hypertension could be predicted with 80% sensitivity and 75% specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inflammation is associated with the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension. The inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 may have a role in the clinical evaluation of paediatric pulmonary hypertension related to CHDs.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatric Neurology,Ankara University Medical Faculty Hospital,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokcen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oz-Tuncer
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Medical Faculty Hospital,Gazi University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olgunturk
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Medical Faculty Hospital,Afyon Kocatepe University,Afyonkarahisar,Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pektas
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Adana Numune Research and Education Hospital,Adana,Turkey.
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cilsal
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Medical Faculty Hospital,Gazi University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Medical Faculty Hospital,Gazi University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Medical Faculty Hospital,Gazi University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedef F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tunaoglu
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Biochemistry,Medical Faculty Hospital,Gazi University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozge T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Biochemistry,Medical Faculty Hospital,Gazi University,Ankara,Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Biomarker; CHD; inflammation; pulmonary hypertension