Key result
Amniotic fluid nt-proBNP concentrations negatively correlate with gestational age (r = -0.749, p<0.001) between 10 and 34 weeks of gestation, allowing the establishment of reference intervals.
Why the study?
What are the reference intervals for amniotic fluid nt-proBNP between 10 and 34 weeks of gestation?
Cross-Sectional (n=132)
No
What are the reference intervals for amniotic fluid nt-proBNP between 10 and 34 weeks of gestation?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Nt-proBNP is present in amniotic fluid and decreases during gestation, providing reference intervals that may serve as a basis for its use as a biomarker for fetal cardiovascular dysfunction.
BACKGROUND: In adult and pediatric cardiology, n-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (nt-proBNP) serves as biomarker in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular dysfunction. Elevated levels of circulating nt-proBNP are present in fetal conditions associated with myocardial pressure or volume load. Compared to fetal blood sampling, amniocentesis is technically easier and can be performed from early pregnancy onwards. We aimed to investigate amniotic fluid (AF) nt-proBNP concentrations in normal pregnancies between 10 and 34 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Nt-proBNP and total protein (TP) was measured in AF by chemiluminescence assay (photometry, respectively). To adjust for a potential dilutional effect, the AF-nt-proBNP/AF-TP ratio was analyzed. Reference intervals were constructed by regression modeling across gestational age. RESULTS: 132 samples were analyzed. A negative correlation between AF-nt-proBNP/AF-TP ratio and gestational age was observed. Curves for the mean and the 5% and 95% reference interval between 10 and 34 weeks of gestation were established. CONCLUSION: In normal pregnancy, nt-proBNP is present in AF and decreases during gestation. Our data provide the basis for research on AF-nt-proBNP as biomarker in fetal medicine.
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Merz et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Pregnancy (n=132). Gestational age was evaluated on Correlation between amniotic fluid nt-proBNP and gestational age (r = -0.749, p=<0.001). Amniotic fluid nt-proBNP concentrations negatively correlate with gestational age (r = -0.749, p<0.001) between 10 and 34 weeks of gestation, allowing the establishment of reference intervals.
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