Early NT-proBNP levels as a screening tool for the detection of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus during the first week of life in very low birth weight infants

• Published in: Journal of perinatology 2018-07, Vol.38 (7), p.881-888
• Main Authors: Rodriguez-Blanco, Silvia, Oulego-Erroz, Ignacio, Gautreaux-Minaya, Sandra, Perez-Muñuzuri, Alejandro, Couce-Pico, Maria Luz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/443/1338; 692/53/2423; 82/51; Birth weight; Care and treatment; Congenital diseases; Congenital heart defects; Coronary vessels; Diagnosis; Echocardiography; Gestational age; Health aspects; Hemodynamics; Infants; Low birth weight; Medical screening; Medical tests; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Newborn babies; Patent ductus arteriosus; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Peptide hormones; Risk management
• ISSN: 0743-8346; 1476-5543
• DOI: 10.1038/s41372-018-0123-x

Objective To assess whether early NT-ProBNP can identify the need for echocardiographic assessment of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (HsPDA) in preterm infants. Study design Prospective observational study of infants with a gestational age ≤32 weeks. Echocardiographic assessment and NT-proBNP measurement were performed at 48–96 h. ROC curves were generated to assess optimal cutoffs to detect HsPDA and predict the need for treatment. Results Eighty-five patients were included. HsPDA was present in 28 infants (37.6%), and 22 (25.8%) received treatment. The optimal NT-proBNP cutoff for the detection of HsPDA was 5099 pg/mL (sensitivity 94%, specificity 82%, area under the curve 0.941, P   <  0.001). Only 1 child with NT-proBNP levels