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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

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 881–888 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

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 <5099 pg/mL was ultimately treated for PDA. NT-proBNP screening could have avoided 45 of 85 routine echocardiograms (53%).

Conclusion

NT-proBNP screening at 48–96 h of life may identify preterm infants at low risk for HsPDA, improving PDA management.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all our colleagues at the NICU for their excellent day-to-day work and for believing in this project from the beginning. We would also like to particularly thank our patients and their families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Leon, Leon, Spain

    Silvia Rodriguez-Blanco & Ignacio Oulego-Erroz

  2. Hospital de El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Spain

    Sandra Gautreaux-Minaya

  3. Complejo Hospitalario, Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Alejandro Perez-Muñuzuri & Maria Luz Couce-Pico

Authors
  1. Silvia Rodriguez-Blanco
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Correspondence to Silvia Rodriguez-Blanco.

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Rodriguez-Blanco, S., Oulego-Erroz, I., Gautreaux-Minaya, S. et al. 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. J Perinatol 38, 881–888 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0123-x

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