Brain and atrial natriuretic peptide plasma concentrations in normal healthy children.

Specific radioimmunoassay techniques were used to measure simultaneously plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in normal healthy children and adults. The concentrations of BNP in plasma of 20 children (mean +/- SEM; 31 +/- 4 pg/ml) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than concentrations in plasma of 20 adults (12 +/- 1.8 pg/ml). There was no significant difference in levels of plasma ANP between children (27 +/- 3 pg/ml) and adults (36 +/- 2.2 pg/ml). Plasma levels of BNP were positively correlated with plasma ANP levels in children (r = 0.53, P < 0.02, n = 20) and in adults (r = 0.59, P < 0.02, n = 20). These results suggest that plasma levels of BNP in normal children are higher than levels in normal adults; and provide a useful baseline for comparison with levels of BNP and ANP in plasma of children with impaired cardiac function.