Increased N-terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide during Extracorporeal Life Support Is Associated with Poor Outcome in Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

To evaluate the prognostic information derived from the daily measurements of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia undergoing extracorporeal life support (ECLS).Plasma proBNP was prospectively measured daily during the first week of ECLS using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Patients (n = 63) were allocated according to outcome: survivors (group 1, n = 35); nonsurvivors with successful weaning (defined as survival for >12 hours after ECLS discontinuation) (group 2, n = 16); nonsurvivors with unsuccessful weaning (group 3, n = 12). ProBNP kinetics were compared using Kruskal-Wallis testing and correlated with pulmonary hypertension and cardiac dysfunction on echocardiography using the Spearman correlation coefficient.Infants in group 3 presented significantly higher proBNP values from day 3 to day 6 compared with group 1 and 2. Overall mortality among patients with the highest proBNP values on day 1 was 30.6% compared with 63% in those patients with at least 1 higher value on day 2 to day 7. In patients with a late increase (day 4 to day 7) in proBNP the mortality was 70%, compared with 32.6% in those with proBNP below the value on day 1. Weaning failure was 35% in patients with a late increase and 11.6% in those without a late increase. ProBNP correlated significantly with pulmonary hypertension and cardiac dysfunction before and during ECLS.Absolute proBNP values are associated with weaning failure but not overall mortality in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia undergoing ECLS. Echocardiographic findings correlate well with proBNP values.