Diagnostic Value of N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Level in Pediatric Patients with Atrial or Ventricular Septal Defect

Background: Plasma concentrations of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can reflect cardiac functions in patients with cardiac diseases. Aim of the Study: The aim of the present study is to determine the concentrations of NT-proBNP in pediatric patients with VSD and ASD presenting with or without heart failure and to correlate the level of NT-pro BNP with their clinical and echocardiographic data. Methods: Our study included forty two patients (twenty four patients with VSD and eighteen patients with ASD) selected randomly from pediatric outpatient clinic and inpatient ward of Benha University Hospitals, patient group was compared with control group consisting of fifteen apparently healthy, age and sex matched choldren. Results: The plasma level of NT-proBNP is significantly higher in patients with VSD and ASD than in control subjects (p 0.05). Also, it is significantly increased in patients with heart failure than those without heart failure (p 0.05), and in patients with increased systolic pulmonary artery pressure than those with normal systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusion: Bedside measurement of NT-pro BNP correlates with severity of ASD and VSD in children, it can provide information for the management of children with ASD or VSD, and used in early detection of heart failure and pulmonary hypertention, and can be used as a part of evaluation of a child with shunt lesion.