• Shlomo Cohen, Chaim Springer, Avraham Avital, Zeev Perles, Azaria J J T Rein, Zvi Argaman, and Amiram Nir.
• Institute of Pulmonology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. advamc@bezeqint.net
• Pediatrics. 2005 May 1;115(5):1347-50.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (N-BNP) could differentiate between heart failure and lung disease among infants with acute respiratory distress. In addition, our aim was to determine whether plasma levels of N-BNP could be used to monitor the effects of treatment among infants with heart failure.MethodsInfants (age range: 1-36 months; median age: 10 months) who presented with respiratory distress underwent physical examination, plasma N-BNP measurement, and echocardiography within 24 hours after admission. Seventeen infants were finally diagnosed with acute heart failure and 18 with acute lung disease. Thirteen healthy infants served as a control group.ResultsPlasma N-BNP levels were significantly higher for the infants with heart failure (median: 18452 pg/mL; range: 5375-99700 pg/mL) than for the infants with lung disease (median: 311 pg/mL; range: 76-1341 pg/mL). Among the infants with heart failure, there was a significant difference in plasma N-BNP levels before and after congestive heart failure treatment.ConclusionAmong infants with respiratory distress, plasma N-BNP measurements can differentiate between acute heart failure and lung disease and can be used to monitor the effects of treatment for infants with heart failure.

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