Diagnostic usefulness of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide among children with heart failure in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Date
2011-01
Authors
Ekure, E.N.
Okoromah, C.A.
Ajuluchukwu, J.N.
Mbakwem, A.
Oladipo, O.O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
West African College of Physicians and West African College of Surgeons
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) is useful in the diagnosis and management of adult patients with heart failure.
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the study was to determine the usefulness of NT-proBNP in diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) in children and its correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and clinical heart failure score.
METHODS:
Plasma NT-proBNP was measured in 28 children with CHF and age matched controls. Heart failure assessment was done using modified Ross score and all had echocardiography done.
RESULTS:
Mean plasma NT-proBNP of children with CHF (377.86±1026.49pg/mL) was significantly higher than that of controls (353.61±328.50 pg/mL) (p<0.001). A plasma NT-pro BNP of 951pg/mL was used as the cut off value for heart failure. The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values were 57%, 96%, 69% and 94% respectively. NT-pro BNP levels showed a high positive correlation with the modified Ross score (r= 0.502; p<0.001) but low correlation with LVEF (r= -0.137; p>0.3).
CONCLUSION:
Our findings indicate that measuring NT-pro BNP may be useful as a diagnostic tool in congestive cardiac failure in children. The fact that its levels also correlated positively with modified Ross score thereby objectively determining severity of heart failure suggests that this biomarker may also be useful as an evaluation tool in congestive cardiac failure in children.
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
NT-pro BNP , Heart failure , Children , modified Ross Score , ejection fraction , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Ekure EN, Okoromah CA, Ajuluchukwu JN, Mbakwem A, Oladipo OO. Diagnostic usefulness of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide among children with heart failure in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. West Afr J Med. 2011 Jan-Feb;30(1):29-34.