NT‐pro BNP—A marker for worsening respiratory status and mortality in infants and young children with pulmonary hypertension

Aim To evaluate predictors of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), laboratory and echocardiographic measures of PH were analyzed. Methods A retrospective review of all infants and children < 2 years of age with PH from January 2011 to August 2016 was conducted. Correlations were determined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Differences in characteristics between survivors and nonsurvivors were analyzed and Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were generated. Results Of 56 patients, the majority were extremely premature; of African American ethnicity; and had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Patients who died were more likely to have underlying congenital heart disease; have a higher increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood (pCO 2 ) with a corresponding greater mean percentage decrease in pH and percentage rise in NT‐pro BNP during PH exacerbations; more likely to have been on medications for pulmonary hypertension; and have a higher RVSP/SBP (%) ratio and S/D ratio. There were positive correlations between percentage rise in NT‐pro BNP and pCO 2 ; NT‐pro BNP and RVSP/SBP (%) ratio; and RVSP/SBP (%) ratio and S/D ratio. Conclusions Infants and young children with pulmonary hypertension have increased morbidity and mortality. NT‐pro BNP is a useful biomarker for both respiratory exacerbations and mortality, and RVSP/SBP (%) ratio and S/D ratio are echocardiographic identifiers for increased mortality.