Aminoterminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide: heart or lung disease in the neonate?

Objectives: B-type natriuretic peptides have been shown to enable differentiation between heart and lung diseases in adults and children. In neonates, the role of natriuretic peptides for diagnosis of congenital heart defect (CHD) is not yet ascertained. The purpose of this single-center prospective study was to investigate aminoterminal B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations and their time courses during the first 5 days of life in neonates with CHD compared with neonates with respiratory distress.

Tocolysis with the β-2-sympathomimetic hexoprenaline increases occurrence of infantile haemangioma in preterm infants.

Background: Infantile haemangioma (IH) is the most commonly observed tumour in children. Off-label pharmacological treatment of IH with the beta-blocker propranolol induces regression of IH. Based on the fact that IH are more frequently observed in premature babies than in mature babies and the evidence that beta-blocker therapy leads to regression of IH, the authors generated the hypothesis that the use of β-2-sympathomimetics during pregnancy for inhibiting premature labour might increase occurrence of IH in preterm infants.

Open-heart surgery in premature and low-birth-weight infants--a single-centre experience.

Objective: Because of their poor clinical status, infants may require surgery for congenital heart disease regardless of weight or prematurity. This retrospective review describes a single-centre experience with open-heart surgery in low-weight infants.

Methods: From November 1997 to December 2006, 411 open-heart surgery procedures were performed in neonates.

Amino terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels are elevated in the cord blood of neonates with congenital heart defect.

This prospective study investigates whether amino terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are elevated in neonates with congenital heart defect (CHD). NT-proBNP levels in the umbilical cord blood of 60 neonates with prenatally diagnosed CHD, in the cord blood of 200 control subjects, and in the plasma of the respective mothers were analyzed using an automated enzyme immunoassay. NT-proBNP concentrations in the cord blood of the CHD group were significantly elevated compared with controls [median (range): 158 pg/mL (378-3631 pg/mL) and 626 pg/mL (153-2518 pg/mL); p value <0.

Hypocalcemic tetany in the newborn as a manifestation of unrecognized maternal primary hyperparathyroidism.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) during pregnancy is a very rare event that increases maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. We present a case in which hypocalcemic tetany of the neonatal infant - caused by transient hypoparathyroidism in the child - finally revealed asymptomatic maternal PHP. An apparently healthy 30-year-old woman had an uneventful pregnancy and delivery.

Mortality and morbidity in extremely preterm infants (22 to 26 weeks of gestation): Austria 1999-2001.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the mortality and morbidity for extremely preterm infants with a gestational age from 22 to 26 weeks. All infants were born in Austria during the years 1999-2001.

Methods: Data were collected from 16 neonatal intensive care units in Austria.