N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide measurements in hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants

Objectives: evaluate the role of nt-probnp levels in preterm neonates suffering from pda and used as a screening tool for predicting hspda and guiding physicians to consider early echocardiographic evaluation. methods: this is a monocentric prospective blind study which was conducted at arar central hospital,ar’ar,saudi arabia,during the period between jan 2014 to june 2014. thirty-three (33) preterm infants born at less than 31 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 1200 g at birth infants were initially enrolled during a 6-month period. blood samples were collected along with routine blood tests on days 1,2,3,and 7 of life for nt-probnp analysis. two echocardiographies were systematically performed on day two of life to ascertain about the status of ductus arteriosus. results: the plasma nt-probnp levels were high on day one of life and decline from day three to day seven of life except in those infants with significant hspda. plasma nt-pronbp levels on day 2 of infants in the hspda group were significantly higher (<0.001) than those in non-hspda group. echocardiogram parameters indicates the significant difference (p<0.002) in left atrial and aortic ratio (la/ao),interventricular septum thickness (p<0.03),left ventricular posterior wall thickness (p<0.05),diastole pda gradient (p<0.005) between hspda and non-hspda. conclusions: plasma nt-probnp level peaked during the first few days after birth and declined rapidly within a week. therefore,its level may have a role as a screening tool to predict hspda and provide more information regarding its spontaneous closure or otherwise. � 2016,professional medical publications. all rights reserved.