P37 Reference ranges of blood NT-proBNP in paediatric heart failure and healthy controls: compilation of literature data

Abstract

BackgroundN-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a valuable biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure in adults, included into the European Society Guidelines for heart failure (2016).1 It is also considered as a diagnostic and follow-up marker in paediatric heart failure. The aetiology of paediatric heart failure is heterogeneous and maturation of the cardiac and neurohumoral system influences NT-proBNP levels. Since substantial information is mandatory to enable a long-term follow-up of children with heart failure, the aim was to collect published paediatric NT-proBNP data.MethodsIn January 2019, a literature search using PubMed was performed comprising the following keywords: NT-proBNP, heart failure/dilated cardiomyopathy/congenital heart defect/congenital heart disease/healthy and child/neonate/toddler/infant/paediatric. Eligible publications had to determine levels of NT-proBNP in plasma or serum in paediatric heart failure or healthy children (0–18 years) with the Roche NT-proBNP-immunoassay.ResultsThe search resulted in 343 records, of which 95 measured NT-proBNP in paediatric controls or heart failure. Of them, 48 studies were excluded due to the use of other immunoassays. Following, 47 studies were included into the analysis of which 27 reported NT-proBNP levels in 3435 healthy children and 38 NT-proBNP concentrations in 1885 children with heart failure. The age range of reported levels comprised the day of birth up to 18 years in both groups. The data set revealed that younger children have higher NT-proBNP values than older children and that heart failure patients had increased NT-proBNP levels compared to healthy controls which are also dependent on the severity of disease.ConclusionThe literature search and analysis confirmed that NT-proBNP is an important marker for the detection of heart failure and classification of disease severity in children. Thus, the compiled data set forms a solid data basis for long-term follow-up of a paediatric patient population with heart failure.ReferencesPonikowski P, Voors AA, Anker SD, et al. 2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: The task force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the european society of cardiology (ESC)developed with the special contribution of the heart failure association (HFA) of the esc. Eur Heart J 2016;37(27):2129–200.Disclosure(s)Tanja Gangnus, Fabian K. Suessenbach, Nina Makowski, Ilja Burdman, Stephanie Laeer, Björn B. Burckhardt declare that there is no conflict of interest. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework programme (FP/2007–2013) under grant agreement n°602295 (LENA).