Diagnostic value of NT-proBNP in children with Kawasaki disease

Objective To observe the changes of NT-proBNP and to explore its diagnostic value in Kawasaki disease in children.Methods The plasma levels of NT-proBNP were detected in acute-and recovery-phase in 36 children with typical Kawasaki disease and 20 with incomplete Kawasaki disease respectively.Meanwhile the plasma levels of NT-proBNP were also detected in 30 children with respiratory tract infection with fever and without involvement of myocardium and in 30 healthy children.The plasma levels of NT-proBNP were compared between groups.The echocardiographic examination was performed in children with Kawasaki disease.Results The plasma levels of NT-proBNP were no significantly different between children with incomplete Kawasaki disease and children with typical Kawasaki disease.The plasma levels of NT-proBNP in acute-phase in children with incomplete Kawasaki disease and typical Kawasaki disease were clearly higher than that in children with respiratory tract infection and healthy children.The plasma levels of NT-proBNP in recovery-phase were significantly lower than that in acute-phase in children with Kawasaki disease.When diagnosis of Kawasaki disease was made by plasma level of NT-proBNP 300 pg/ml,the sensitivity and specificity were 80.35%,90.00%,respectively.The positive rate of plasma level of NT-proBNP 300 pg/ml was significantly higher than that complicated by coronary lesion.Conclusions The plasma level of NT-proBNP could be used as a reference index in early diagnosis of Kawasaki disease.