Pro-brain natriuretic peptide as predictive factor for cardiovascular abnormalities in children with incomplete Kawasaki disease in emergency department

Abstract

Purpose The prevalence of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) is progressively increasing. The purpose of our study is to investigate the usefulness of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) assay as a predictive biochemical marker of cardiovascular abnormality in children with incomplete KD. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients under 15 years of age with incomplete KD in the pediatric emergency department (PED) of Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital from January 2010 to December 2014. Incomplete KD was diagnosed in 132 children, including 67 boys and 65 girls, aged 2 to 83 months (mean, 24.9 months). We assessed the risk of cardiovascular abnormality in relation to age, gender, duration of fever, symptoms, and laboratory data. Results The distribution of epidemiologic characters, laboratory findings except platelet counts, and pro-BNP in the patient group without cardiovascular abnormality absent group did not significantly differ from those of the patient group with cardiovascular abnormality group. However, in the latter group with cardiovascular abnormality, serum platelet counts were significantly lower and concentration of pro-BNP levels were significantly higher. Conclusion Pro-BNP might be a useful and important value for predicting cardiovascular abnormality in incomplete KD at PED. Therefore, incomplete KD patients with high concentraton of pro-BNP need further evaluation for cardiovascular abnormality. Key Words: Kawasaki Disease; Pro-brain natriuretic peptide; Cardiovascular Abnormalities; Complications; Risk Factors