N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker for differentiating cardiac and pulmonary disease in term neonates with respiratory distress

Abstract Objective: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is synthesized in the cardiac ventricles and released in response to volume or pressure load. The aim of the study was to determine whether plasma level of N-terminal pro BNP (NT-pro BNP) can distinguish between cardiac and pulmonary disease (PD) among neonates with respiratory distress (RD). Patients and methods: The study included 48 term neonates in the first month of life with signs of RD. They were recruited from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of