Diagnostic Accuracy of Urinary N Terminal pro-B Type Natriuretic Peptides for Hemodynamically Significant-Patent

Srirupa Hari Gopal1, Ganga Gokulakrishnan1, Madhulika Kulkarni1

  • 1Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.

Neonatology
|October 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Urinary N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) show modest accuracy for diagnosing hemodynamically significant-patent ductus arteriosus (hs-PDA) in preterm infants. Local validation is crucial before widespread clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
  • Biomarker Research

Background:

  • Echocardiography is the gold standard for diagnosing hemodynamically significant-patent ductus arteriosus (hs-PDA) but requires specialized personnel and equipment.
  • Urinary biomarkers offer a potential adjunct diagnostic tool for hs-PDA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of urinary N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) for hs-PDA in preterm neonates.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review including studies evaluating urinary NT-proBNP and NT-proBNP/creatinine ratio in preterm neonates.
  • Echocardiography served as the reference standard for hs-PDA diagnosis.
  • Quality Assessment of Diagnostic-Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) were used.

Main Results:

  • Low quality of evidence indicates modest sensitivity and specificity for urinary NT-proBNP in diagnosing hs-PDA.
  • Diagnostic accuracy varied depending on the specific assay used and patient characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Urinary NT-proBNP assays require local validation for specific preterm infant populations.
  • Further research is necessary to support the clinical utility of urinary NT-proBNP for hs-PDA diagnosis.
Abstract