PLASMA BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN HEALTHY-CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO ADOLESCENCE - MARKED AND RAPID INCREASE AFTER BIRTH

The aim of the present study is to establish the normal range and to d etermine the developmental changes of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in children. We measured plasma BNP concentratio ns as well as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations in 58 he althy children from birth to adolescence and in the umbilical vein of 20 healthy neonates using highly sensitive immunoradiometric assays, T he plasma BNP concentration was the highest at 0 days of age and desce nded through maturation to be almost constant and to he at the adult l evel at 3 months of age, The plasma BNP concentration at 0 days of age (56.7 +/- 49.6 fmol/ml; mean +/- SD) was 25 to 30 times higher than t he adult level and 21 times higher than that in the umbilical vein (2. 7 +/- 1.4 fmol/ml). The plasma ANP concentration at 0 days of age was not significantly different from that in the umbilical vein. The ratio of BNP to ANP was also the highest at 0 days of age (1.39 +/- 0.72) a nd decreased through maturation to be at the adult level at 3 months o f age, Thus, the plasma BNP concentration in healthy subjects showed a marked, rapid and preferential increase immediately after birth, sugg esting that BNP has a physiological role distinct from that of ANP in the perinatal circulatory changes from fetus to neonate.