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To study serum levels of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP) in children with chronic heart failure (CHF), and the correlation between heart function and the level of h-FABP, with the aim of studying the significance of h-FABP in CHF.Thirty-six children with CHF, including 16 cases of endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) and 20 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were enrolled in the study. Thirty healthy children sevred as the control group. Serum levels of h-FABP were determined using ELISA, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac index (CI) and fractional shortening of the left ventricle (LVSF) were measured by two-dimensional echocardiography in the CHF group.Mean levels of h-FABP in the CHF group were significantly higher than in the control group (21.7±4.3 ng/mL vs 6.2±1.7 ng/mL; P0.01). The worse the heart function, the higher the h-FABP levels (P0.01). Mean levels of h-FABP in both the EFE and DCM groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P0.01). Serum h-FABP concentrations were negatively correlated with LVEF, CI and LVSF (r=-0.65, -0.64 and -0.71 respectively; P0.01) in the CHF group.Serum h-FABP levels increase in children with CHF and are closely related to the severity of the condition. Serum h-FABP levels can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of heart failure and the evaluation of its severity.

To study serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and the correlation between BNP levels and the heart function.Forty-three children with KD and thirty healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of BNP were measured using ELISA. KD children received an echocardiographic examination, including measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shorten fraction (LVSF), cardiac index (CI) and left ventricular inflow velocity through the mitral annulus.Mean serum level of BNP at the acute stage in children with KD was significantly higher than that at the recovery stage as well as the control group (p0.01). The LVEF, LVSF and CI levels at the acute stage were significantly lower than those at the recovery stage in children with KD (p0.05). The linear regression analysis showed that the BNP level was negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI (r=-0.63, -0.52, -0.53, p0.05).The serum BNP levels increase significantly in KD children at the acute stage, and are negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI. Measurement of serum BNP level is useful for the early diagnosis of KD.

To assess the values of serum fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in pneumonia complicated by acute congestive heart failure (CHF) in children.Serum levels of FABP and BNP were determined using ELISA in 36 children with pneumonia complicated by CHF (pneumonia group) and 28 healthy children (control group).Serum levels of FABP and BNP in the pneumonia group at the acute stage were significantly higher than those in the control group and those at the recovery stage (P0.01). Compared with the control group, serum levels of FABP and BNP in the pneumonia group at the recovery stage increased significantly (P0.01). At the acute stage, 35 patients (97.2%) showed increased serum FABP level but 28 (77.8%) showed increased serum BNP level (P0.05) in the pneumonia group. At the recovery stage, the incidence of abnormal serum FABP (72.2%) was significantly higher than that of BNP (44.4%) in the pneumonia group (P0.05).Serum levels of FABP and BNP can be regarded as biochemical markers of myocardial damage in children with pneumonia complicated by CHF and serum FABP appears to be a more sensitive one. Serum FABP and BNP remained at higher levels through the recovery stage, suggesting that myocardial damage existed though the clinical symptoms were improved at the stage.

This study examined serum level of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) in order to assess its value in KD.Forty children with KD and 30 healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of h-FABP and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured using ELISA. Serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) level was detected using an autoanalyer. The KD group was classified into two subgroups, with or without coronary artery lesions, based on the findings of the echocardiography.Mean serum levels of h-FABP (18.17+/-13.38 ng/mL vs 6.25+/-1.70 ng/mL; P0.01) and cTnI (0.27+/-0.22 ng/mL vs 0.11+/-0.02 ng/mL; P0.05) in the KD group was significantly higher than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in serum CK-MB concentrations between the two groups. Twenty-six patients (65%) and eight patients (20%) showed abnormally increased h-FABP and cTnI levels respectively in the KD group, but none of the control group showed increased levels of both. In the KD group, the percentage of patients with increased h-FABP was significantly higher than those with increased CTnI (P0.01). The patients with coronary artery lesions had higher serum h-FABP level than those without (28.14+/-14.26 ng/mL vs 11.52+/-6.28 ng/mL; P0.01).Serum levels of h-FABP and cTnI increase and can be used as the biomarkers of myocardial damage in children with KD. h-FABP appears to be more sensitive and specific. Detection of serum h-FABP level is useful for diagnosis of KD and coronary artery lesions secondary to KD.