Correlation between urinary and serum NT-proBNP in acute bronchiolitis: A pilot study.

Background And Aims: We aimed to analyze the correlation of urinary with serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations and its association with severity in acute bronchiolitis.

Material And Methods: A pilot observational study was conducted between October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 including acute bronchiolitis cases who attended our institution. Serum and urinary NT-proBNP concentrations were determined using the Alere i NT-proBNP assay in time-matched urine and blood samples.

Vitamin D Levels and Cardiopulmonary Status in Infants with Acute Bronchiolitis.

Background: To assess association of Vitamin D deficiency with cardiac and pulmonary status in infants with acute bronchiolitis.

Methods: Infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis were enrolled and classified as those with serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) below or equal and above 20 ng/mL. The primary outcomes were cardiopulmonary involvement defined by elevation of NT-ProBNP, alteration of echocardiographic parameters and respiratory support requirements.

Routine laboratory test to assess the need of respiratory support in acute bronchiolitis.

Background And Objectives: Accurate and readily available biomarkers to predict the clinical course of bronchiolitis would enable enhanced decision-making in this setting. We explored the relationship of several biochemical parameters available at the pediatric emergency care setting with the need of advanced respiratory support (ARS): continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), biphasic positive airway pressure (BiPAP), or invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in bronchiolitis.

Methods: Single-center, prospective, observational, including infants aged less than 12 months diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis at the Pediatric Emergency Department.

The Pivotal Role of Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Atypical Pattern in Critically Ill Children. An Illustrative Case Report.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) has some distinctive features like greater proportion of reverse-TCM and central nervous system disease as a prevalent triggering cause. We expose the case of a child with cardiogenic shock presenting an atypical echocardiographic TCM pattern on an echocardiography, after an acute neurologic trigger. We also include a systematic literature review of previously described cases of atypical-TCM in children.

Early elevated NT-proBNP but not troponin I is associated with severe bronchiolitis in infants.

Background: We aimed to explore and to compare the association between the NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI) at early stages of acute bronchiolitis with echocardiographic alterations, clinical severity and outcomes.

Methods: A single centre, prospective observational study including previously healthy infants aged 1-12 months with bronchiolitis admitted to a tertiary hospital from April 2019 to March 2020. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic evaluation at the same time point within 12 h of hospital admission.

Hemolysis and methemoglobinemia in a child with left ventricular assist Levitronix PediMag.

A 5-month-old male was treated with left ventricular assist device due to cardiac failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy. The patient developed acute severe intravascular hemolysis with methemoglobinemia and renal failure, related to a mechanical problem due to pump cylinder misalignment. Secondary severe methemoglobinemia has not been previously described in patients undergoing ventricular assist device.

Reproducibility and reference values of diaphragmatic shortening fraction for term and premature infants.

Background: New ultrasound measurements to diagnose diaphragmatic dysfunction, including diaphragmatic shortening fraction (DSF), have been studied in adults and children, but there are no data on reference values for neonates.

Objective: To describe DSF reference values for term neonate (TN) and preterm neonate (PTN), and to calculate its reproducibility.

Methods: We included asymptomatic TN and PTN during their first 24 hours of life.

[Heart murmur in children less than 2 years-old: looking for a safe and effective referral strategy].

Introduction: Current guidelines in Spain recommend performing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in all children under 2 years of age with a heart murmur. In 2014, the American Paediatric Association published the first appropriate use criteria (AUC) for outpatient paediatric transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to promote its cost-efficient use. The aim of this article is to analyse the AUC and other clinical factors as predictors of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children less than 2 years of age with a heart murmur, and to develop a safe and efficient referral strategy.