RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Diagnosis of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) that should be treated is difficult to determine by clinical and echocardiographic examinations. The aim of this study was to clarify the interrelationship of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) concentrations and clinical signs or echocardiographic signs of PDA in preterm infants and use plasma ANP concentrations as a diagnostic indicator of a hemodynamically significant PDA. METHODS: Twenty-four preterm infants who were born at Guro Hospital, Korea Medical Center were evaluated on the 3rd day after birth. Clinical signs(cardiovascular dysfunction score 3) and echocardiographic signs[magnitude of left-to-right shunt across a PDA and left atrium(LA): Ao ratio] of a PDA and plasma ANP concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Plasma ANP concentrations and LA/Ao ratios of preterm infants with hemodynamically significant PDA were significantly higher than those of preterm infants without hemodynamically significant PDA. Plasma ANP concentrations were related to the magnitude of the left- to-right shunt across a PDA and LA: Ao ratio. Plasma ANP concentrations of LA/Ao of more than 1.3 were significantly higher than that of LA/Ao of less than 1.3. CONCLUSION: In preterm infants, high plasma ANP concentration may be a useful predictive indicator of a hemodynarnically significant PDA. Measurement of plasma ANP concentration may play a role in deciding the need for and timing of medical or surgical management of preterm infants with PDA.