N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker for predicting coronary artery lesion of Kawasaki disease

Figure 1. Flow diagram of the study selection.

Figure 2. Overall performance of NT-proBNP detection for the diagnosis of KD with CAL in the acute phase of KD. (A) Pooled sensitivity. (B) Pooled specificity. (C) Overall DOR. (D) The SROCs for all datasets.

Figure 3. The meta-regression of the enrolled studies. (A) For the study country. (B) For the diagnostic criteria of CAL. (C) For the study design. (D) For the total sample size.

Figure 4. Performance of NT-proBNP (thresholds ≈ 900 ng/L) detection for the diagnosis of KD with CAL in the acute phase of KD. (A) Pooled sensitivity. (B) Pooled specificity. (C) Overall DOR. (D) The SROCs for all datasets.

Figure 5. Sensitivity analysis of the individual trials on the results. (A) For the result of overall NT-proBNP, (B) For the result of NT-proBNP (thresholds ≈ 900 ng/L).

Figure 6. Funnel plots for the assessment of potential publication bias. The funnel graphs plot the Bsquare root of the effective sample size (1/ESS1/2) against the DOR. Each circle represents each study in the meta-analysis. Asymmetry of the circle distribution between regression lines indicates potential publication bias. (A) Total pooled result, (B) Thresholds ≈ 900 ng/L pooled result, (C) Prospective pooled result, (D) Retrospective pooled result, (E) Total sample size (n ≤ 100) pooled result, (F) Total sample size (n > 100) pooled result.