All issues > Volume 48(12); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(12):1362-1369. Published online December 15, 2005.

N-terminal Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide as a Predictive Risk Factor in Fontan Operation

Gi Young GY Jang¹, Jae Young JY Lee¹, Soo Jin SJ Kim¹, Woo Sup WS Shim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, Korea

Correspondence Gi Young GY Jang ,Email: jgynhg@dreamwiz.com

Abstract

Purpose
: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the plasma level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(pro-BNP) and several known risk factors influencing outcomes after Fontan operations, and to assess whether pro-BNP levels can be used as predictive risk factors in Fontan operations.
Methods
: Plasma pro-BNP concentrations were measured in 35 patients with complex cardiac anomalies before catheterization. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all subjects. Mean right atrium pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure(PAP), and ventricular end-diastolic pressure(EDP) were obtained. Cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance were calculated by Fick method.
Results
: Plasma pro-BNP levels exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with mean PAP(r=0.70, P<0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance(r=0.57, P<0.001), RVEDP(r=0.63, P<0.001), LVEDP(r=0.74, P<0.001), and cardiothoracic ratio(r=0.71, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve using pro-BNP level to differentiate risk groups in Fontan operations was high : 0.868(95 percent CI, 0.712-1.023, P<0.01). The cutoff value of pro-BNP concentrations for the detection of risk groups in Fontan operations was determined to be 332.4 pg/mL(sensitivity 83.3 percent, specificity 82.7 percent).
Conclusion
: These data suggest that plasma pro-BNP levels may be used as a predictive risk factor in Fontan operations, and as a guide to determine the mode of therapy during follow-up after Fontan operations.

Keywords :Fontan operation , Risk factor , B-type natriuretic peptide