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The aim of this study is to detect preeclampsia-related cardiac dysfunction within 24-48 hours of delivery in newborns born from preeclamptic mothers. Forty newborns from mildly preeclamptic mothers formed the study group and the control group was formed by 40 healthy newborns. Cardiac function for the groups were evaluated using conventional echocardiography and myocardial performance index (MPI) within the first 24-48 hours of their lifetime and the results of both groups were compared. A significant difference between the groups was observed especially in the PW Doppler MPI measurements (the left ventricle MPI 0.37 ± 0.09 and 0.26 ± 0.11, p < .001; the right ventricle MPI 0.29 ± 0.08 and 0.26 ± 0.07, p < .035) for the control group and the study group. Elongation in the left and right ventricle MPI was detected to be more significant in terms of comparing systolic and diastolic functions to determine preeclampsia-related cardiac injury in newborns from preeclamptic mothers within the first 24-48 hours of their lifetime. Impact statement Today, the methods which may detect cardiac injury earlier than conventional echocardiographic methods are used for evaluating cardiac functions. Among them, myocardial performance index (MPI) measurement with PW Doppler is the most common ones. While studies are available in the literature evaluating foetal cardiac functions with MPI in foetuses of preeclamptic women, studies evaluating cardiac functions with MPI index within the first 24-48 hours in postnatal period are not available. This is the first study to detect cardiac injury by measuring cardiac functions of the newborns of preeclamptic babies using conventional echocardiography (EF, SF, mitral and tricuspid E/A) and myocardial performance index within the first 24-48 hours of life and compare these values with those of a control group composed of healthy newborns with similar demographic characteristics. According to the results of the study, elongation in right and left ventricle MPI was detected to be more significant compared to systolic and diastolic functions for determining preeclampsia-related cardiac injury in newborns of preeclamptic mothers within 24-48 hours of delivery. Ventricle functions of the newborns of preeclamptic mothers should also be evaluated with MPI measurement besides conventional echocardiographic measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) could differentiate between heart failure and lung disease among infants with acute bronchiolitis. Methods: Sixty-eight infants (age range, 1-26 months; median age, 5.9 ± 5.0 months) who presented with respiratory distress underwent physical examination, plasma BNP measurement, and echocardiography within 24 hours after admission. Nineteen (28%) patients had congenital heart disease. The control group was consisted of 30 healthy infants. Results: Although mean plasma BNP levels were 118.9 ± 219.5 pg/mL in patients with isolated bronchiolitis (n = 49), it was 841.2 ± 1475.8 pg/mL in patients with congenital heart disease (n = 19). Plasma BNP levels were significantly higher in infants with congenital heart disease (P = .001). Conclusion: It was shown that plasma BNP levels were affected much more in cardiac disease rather than lung disease. Among infants with respiratory distress, plasma BNP measurements can differentiate congenital heart disease and lung disease and can be used to monitor the effects of treatment for infants with heart failure. Response To Reviewers: The comments were taken for consideration. The patient groups control BNP levels were attached to the results. As it was a clinical study and multiple factors (respiratory score, respiratory rate, treatment, etc) may effect on BNP levels, the tables could not be decreased to 1 table. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]