The use of N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the aetiology of severe respiratory distress in the paediatric emergency department

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory distress is one of the most common reasons for paediatric emergency visits. Paediatric patients require rapid diagnosis and treatment. Our aim in this study was to use N-terminal (1-76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide to differentiate respiratory distress of cardiac and pulmonary origin in children. Our aim was to investigate the role of N-terminal (1-76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the detection of patients with new-onset heart failure in the absence of an underlying congenital heart anomaly. METHODS: All children aged 0-18 years who presented to the paediatric emergency department due to severe respiratory distress were included in the study prospectively. The patients' demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, clinical findings, and N-terminal (1-76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations, were investigated. In patients with severe Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score, congestive heart failure score was calculated using the modified Ross Score. RESULTS: This study included 47 children between the ages of 1 month and 14 years. The median N-terminal (1-76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration was 5717 (IQR:16158) pg/mL in the 25 patients with severe respiratory distress due to heart failure and in the 22 patients with severe respiratory distress due to lung pathology was 437 (IQR:874) pg/mL (p < 0.001). In the 25 patients with severe respiratory distress due to heart failure, 8281 (IQR:8372) pg/mL in the 16 patients with underlying congenital heart anomalies, and 1983 (IQR:2150) pg/mL in the 9 patients without a congenital heart anomaly (p < 0.001). The 45 patients in the control group had a median N-terminal (1-76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration of 47.2 (IQR:56.2) pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Using scoring systems in combination with N-terminal (1-76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide cut-off values can help direct and manage treatment.