Background: Serum concentrations of N-terminal natriuretic pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) correlate well with the severity of cardiac disease in children and adults. There are also paediatric illnesses of extracardiac origin that may cause deterioration of the cardiac function in some patients (pts). A high NP level can signify a concomitant cardiac involvement in respiratory distress, or secondary to a systemic disease.
Objective: To assess the potential of NT-proBNP as a screening tool for cardiac involvement in paediatric diseases of extracardiac origin.
Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed for the relevant studies with the subject brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-proBNP from 1995 to 2010 with stress on characteristics of the natriuretic peptides, paediatric reference values and systemic paediatric diseases with potential influence on the myocardial performance. The main focus has been NT-proBNP being the most stable NP and correlating well with BNP.
Results: Most studies agree that a high NT-proBNP level indicates cardiac dysfunction in different systemic diseases such as thalassemia and cystic fibrosis or in pts after chemotherapy. In special clinical scenarios as sepsis or respiratory distress, NT-proBNP helps to narrow down the differential diagnosis or can be used for risk stratification.
Conclusion: NT-proBNP can serve as a screening tool in various primarily non-cardiac paediatric diseases. Together with the clinical picture, a high level suggests further assessment by a paediatric cardiologist.