J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1993 Jul;36(7):982-986.

Plasma norepinephrine levels in infants and children with congestive heart failure

• Lee SW
• Kim MS
• Lee SL
• Kwon TC
• Kang CM

Abstract

To characterize the sympathetic nervous system response to congestive heart failure in infants and children, plasma norepinephrine levels were measured in 29 patients aged 4 months to 15 years undergoing routine cardiac catheterization at Dong San Hospital, Keimyung University during the period of 4 months from November 1990 to February 1991. Plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in patients with heart disease and congestive heart failure than in those without congestive heart failure(P<0.001). A significant association was found between the level of plasma norepinephrine and severity of the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Plasma norepinephrine levels correlated well with size of the shunt (Qp/Qs)(gamma=0.75), degree of pulmonary arterial pressure (gamma=0.79) and degree of right ventricular pressure (gamma=0.82).

Keyword

Norepinephrine; Congestive heart failure

MeSH Terms

Arterial Pressure
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac Catheters
Child*
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)*
Heart
Heart Diseases
Heart Failure*
Humans
Infant*
Norepinephrine*
Plasma*
Sympathetic Nervous System
Ventricular Pressure
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Norepinephrine