NT-proBNP Concentrations in the Umbilical Cord and Serum of Term Neonates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The detection of NT-proBNP levels both in umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples and in serum samples collected from healthy term neonates during the neonatal period. A systematic review of relevant literature in accordance with PRISMA guidelines was conducted. For quality appraisal, the potential risk of bias was assessed using the BIOCROSS evaluation tool. The random-effects and fixed-effects models were used to calculate weighted mean differences with a corresponding 95% confidence interval. A total of forty (40) studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. After further examination, eighteen (18) studies (1738 participants) from the UCB sample group and fourteen (14) studies (393 participants) from the serum sample group were selected to perform a meta-analysis. Using the fixed-effects model, the mean intervals of NT-proBNP in UCB and serum samples were 492 pg/mL (95% CI: 480–503 pg/mL) and 1341 pg/mL (95% CI: 1286–1397 pg/mL), respectively. A higher concentration of ΝΤ-proBNP was observed in the serum sample group compared to the UCB samples (p < 0.001). We present the intervals of NT-proBNP in UCB and in the serum of healthy term neonates. The determination of the potential effect of perinatal factors on the biomarker’s reference range was also aimed.

Urinary NT-proBNP: A Useful Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Respiratory Distress in the Neonatal Population

“…Based on our previous meta-analysis [ 18 ], we used an expected mean value for a healthy population - NT-proBNP level of 1341 pg/ml. We also estimated the standard deviation (based on the Cochrane Handbook) as 613 pg/ml.…”

The Effect of Delivery Mode on Nt-Probnp Levels in Newborns

“…It is especially important in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and is more specific and sensitive in left ventricular failure (4,5). It has also been used to identify problems of cardiac origin in pediatric patients and in a few studies with newborns its role has been investigated in the treatment or prognosis of newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy as well as the identification of PDA and related problems (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”