Early elevations in B‐type natriuretic peptide levels are associated with poor clinical outcomes in pediatric acute lung injury

OBJECTIVES: To determine B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in infants and children with acute lung injury (ALI), and to investigate associations between BNP levels and clinical outcome. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SUBJECTS: After informed consent, plasma was collected from 48 pediatric patients on day 1 of ALI. METHODOLOGY: Plasma BNP levels were measured by immunoassay on day 1 of ALI in 48 pediatric patients. Associations between BNP levels and outcome were determined. RESULTS: The mean PaO(2)/FiO(2) at the onset of ALI was 155 (+/-74) and BNP values ranged from 5 to 2,060 pg/ml with a mean of 109 (+/-311). BNP levels were inversely correlated with ventilator-free days (Spearman rho -0.30, P = 0.04), and positively correlated with exhaled tidal volume (Spearman rho 0.44, P = 0.02). BNP levels were higher in patients receiving inotropic support (n = 12) than patients not receiving inotropic support (n = 33, P = 0.02). BNP levels were correlated with PRISM III scores (Spearman rho 0.55, P < 0.001) and PELOD scores (Spearman rho 0.4, P = 0.006). Mortality for the cohort was 15%. BNP levels were higher in non-survivors (n = 7) than survivors (n = 41, P = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: BNP levels are elevated in children with ALI/ARDS early in the disease course, and increased levels are associated with worse clinical outcome.