A pilot study on umbilical venous level of natriuretic peptides in preterm infants and their relation to periventricular leukomalacia and antenatal complications

The aim of this study was to determine the relation between umbilical venous levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in preterm infants, and the development of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and antenatal complications. Umbilical venous blood samples were obtained from 19 preterm infants with gestational age between 27 and 32 weeks. Cystic PVL was seen in four of them on ultrasonography. Several maternal variables were also investigated. There were no significant differences in ANP or BNP level between infants with and without PVL. Both ANP and BNP levels were significantly higher in infants with antenatal magnesium administration than in those without. Umbilical venous levels of natriuretic peptides were not useful to predict neurological outcome in preterm infants.