Evaluation of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Plasma Levels in Children with Congenital Heart Diseases

Background Since the studies about the diagnostic value of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in determining ventricular dysfunction in patients with Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) is low and early detection of heart dysfunction from the mortality and morbidity rates decrease, this study aimed to assess BNP early diagnose of cardiac function in children with CHD. Materials and Methods This study was performed on children with CHD (n=100, case group) and healthy children (n=50, control group). Severity of heart failure modified Ross classification system was used for grouping patients in four classes. For all participants, height, weight and head circumference were measured. From all participants 3cc blood samples were taken and after separation, the plasma placed at temperature of -80 degrees C. After collecting all samples they were in testing using an ELISA, BNP kit. For control group, statistical methods used to generate right venrticle (RV) and pulmonary artery (PA) pressure randomly. The data were analyzed using SPSS-15 with 0.05 for the level of significant. Results The results of the study showed that among cyanotic patients 68.19% were boys when these proportions were 51.28% and 60% in cyanotic patients and control respectively. Also, RV, HB and O-2 saturation (O(2)Sat) had different mean significantly accordance with the severity of disease. BNP had correlation with PA (P < 0.05 and r=021) and PA had correlation with pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) ratio (P < 0.05 and r=0.45), resistance (Rp/Rs) ratio (P < 0.05 and r=0.59), RV (P < 0.001 and r=0.28) and O(2)Sat (P < 0.05 and r=0.36) respectively. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that the BNP levels in children with CHD compared with healthy children increased; and the positive correlation was observed between the pulmonary hypertension and BNP level.