Correlation of N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide levels with clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic abnormalities in children with sickle cell disease

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) was a biomarker of clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic abnormalities in children with homozygous sickle cell disease.

Study design: We conducted a single-center retrospective study that consisted of analysis of data from November 2007 to December 2010. We correlated serum NTproBNP with clinical and laboratory findings, echocardiographic data, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class.

Results: NTproBNP levels from 42 children (median age, 9 years; 52% female) had significant correlations with hemoglobin (r = -0.63, P < .05), and echocardiographic measurements including tricuspid regurgitant velocity (r = 0.46, P < .05), lateral E' (r = -0.52, P < .05), and lateral E/E' ratio (r = 0.60, P < .05), suggesting diastolic dysfunction. In addition, NTproBNP levels increased from NYHA functional class I to class III and had a significant linear correlation with the NYHA functional class (r = 0.69, P < .05).

Conclusions: NTproBNP correlated with low hemoglobin and tissue Doppler data as indicators of diastolic dysfunction. Elevated NTproBNP may be a prognostic biomarker for the presence of diastolic dysfunction related to anemia in children with sickle cell disease.