Natriuretic peptides in the evaluation of syncope in children and adolescents

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation Vol. 74; no. 4; pp. 301 - 305
• Main Authors: Wójtowicz, Jerzy, Szczepa ski, Wojciech, Bogdan, Aleksandra, Baran, Marcin, Szczurak, Julianna, Bossowski, Artur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.06.2014; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Atrial Natriuretic Factor - blood; Atrial natriuretic peptide; brain natriuretic peptide; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Electroencephalography; Female; Humans; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain - blood; natriuretic peptides; NT-proBNP; Peptide Fragments - blood; Predictive Value of Tests; syncope; Syncope - diagnosis; Syncope - etiology; tilt test; brain natriuretic peptide; natriuretic peptides; Atrial natriuretic peptide; syncope; NT-proBNP; tilt test
• ISSN: 0036-5513; 1502-7686
• DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2014.883550

Abstract Introduction. Natriuretic peptides have an increasing role in assessing cardiovascular conditions. The number of papers addressing their role in the evaluation of children with syncope of unclear etiology is sparse. The aim of this study was to determine whether measuring atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the inactive form, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in children admitted due to differential diagnosis of syncope can be helpful in establishing the most probable cause of this condition. Methods. The study included 88 patients between 9 and 18 years of age hospitalized due to syncope. The control group comprised 25 healthy children. In order to identify the cause of syncope, children with this condition were subjected to cardiologic and neurologic evaluation, and ANP and NT-proBNP concentrations were determined. Results. The syncope group and the controls did not differ significantly in terms of natriuretic peptides concentrations. Similarly, no significant intergroup differences in natriuretic peptide concentrations were documented between children representing various types of response to the tilt test, and between the subgroups of patients with syncope of various origins. Conclusion. Analysis of natriuretic peptides concentrations in children with syncope does not result in unambiguous findings that would enable establishing accurate diagnosis.