Brain natriuretic peptide levels before and after ventricular septal defect repair.

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide is a relatively recently discovered circulating mediator that has been correlated with the degree of heart failure in adults. This study evaluated the preoperative and postoperative brain natriuretic peptide levels in infants and children undergoing ventricular septal defect repair.

Methods: The study enrolled 18 infants and children (ages 2 months to 15.