The Value of NT-proBNP the Follow - up of Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Objectives: To survery the plasma NT-proBNP concentration, the correlation between NT-proBNP concentration and the New York Pediatric Heart Failure Index (NYU PHFI) in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Comment on the association of NT-proBNP with the level of left ventricular dilatation and systolic function in the follow up of children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Method: Prospective, descriptive study. Results: At the time of diagnosis, 32 out of 33 patients (97%) had an NTproBNP level higher than 97,5 th percentile. The log NT-proBNP was significantly positively correlated with PHFI (r = 0.84; P <0.001). The log NT-proBNP wasalso positively correlated with LVED (r = 0.519; p <0.001), was negatively correlated with LVEF (r = -0.736; p <0.001) and LVFS (r = 0.737; p <0.001. The initial levels of serum NT-proBNP were not different from three progressed groups. However, at 3 months after diagnosis, the NT-proBNP of the improved group was significantly different from each other. Conclusion: NT-proBNP is an excellentbiomarker used to diagnose and assess cardiac insufficiency inthe follow up of children with dilated cardiomyopathy.