Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the role of NT-proBNP levels in Preterm neonates suffering from PDA and used as a screening tool for predicting HsPDA and guiding physicians to consider early echocardiographic evaluation. METHODS: This is a monocentric prospective blind study which was conducted at Arar Central Hospital, Ar'ar, Saudi Arabia, during the period between Jan 2014 to June 2014. Thirty-three (33) preterm infants born at less than 31 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 1200 g at birth infants were initially enrolled during a 6-month period. Blood samples were collected along with routine blood tests on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 of life for NT-proBNP analysis. Two echocardiographies were systematically performed on day two of life to ascertain about the status of Ductus Arteriosus. RESULTS: The Plasma NT-proBNP levels were high on day one of life and decline from day three to day seven of life except in those infants with significant hsPDA. Plasma NT-proNBP levels on day 2 of infants in the HsPDA group were significantly higher (<0.001) than those in non-HsPDA group. Echocardiogram parameters indicates the significant difference (p<0.002) in Left Atrial and Aortic ratio (LA/AO), Interventricular septum thickness (P<0.03), Left ventricular posterior wall thickness (p<0.05), diastole PDA gradient (p<0.005) between HsPDA and non-HsPDA. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma NT-proBNP level peaked during the first few days after birth and declined rapidly within a week. Therefore, its level may have a role as a screening tool to predict HsPDA and provide more information regarding its spontaneous closure or otherwise.