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Acute inflammation in young children inhibits C-type natriuretic peptide

Timothy C R Prickett1, James Hector-Taylor, Robert C Olney

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. tim.prickett@otago.ac.nz

Pediatric Research
|June 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Acute illness in children significantly reduces C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) levels, impacting growth velocity. This finding is crucial for assessing growth disorders in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Biochemistry
  • Inflammation Research

Background:

  • C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a key paracrine growth factor in endochondral bone development.
  • Amino-terminal CNP (NTproCNP) in plasma reflects growth-plate activity and pediatric growth velocity.
  • Adult inflammation elevates CNP; pediatric acute illness effects were unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between acute illness, inflammation markers, and CNP peptide levels in young children.
  • To determine if acute inflammation affects CNP production in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 42 acutely ill children (2 months to 5 years) and 15 healthy controls.
  • Measured venous concentrations of NTproCNP and CNP.
  • Assessed inflammatory markers: body temperature, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count.

Main Results:

  • Acutely ill children showed significantly suppressed NTproCNP and CNP standard deviation scores (SDSs) compared to controls.
  • NTproCNP SDS was inversely correlated with body temperature (r = -0.42) and CRP levels (r = -0.56).

Conclusions:

  • Acute inflammation in young children markedly reduces CNP production.
  • Reduced CNP during illness must be considered when evaluating growth disorders.
  • Inflammatory cytokines may contribute to impaired skeletal growth via decreased CNP.
Abstract

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