Atrial natriuretic peptide levels in children with habitual epistaxis.

OBJECTIVE

By virtue of no identifiable causes in the majority of children with habitual epistaxis, it continues to be problematic in pediatric clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible change of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in the children with epistaxis.

METHODS

Both the plasma and nasal mucus ANP levels have been determined in 30 sick children by a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that the plasma and nasal mucus ANP levels were considerably decreased in 24 children with habitual epistaxis when compared with control group (P<0.05), making up 80%, and amongst the interest of these are the nasal mucus ANP levels changing inversely as the times bled from the nose.

CONCLUSION

Although the plasma and nasal mucus ANP levels will not establish the diagnosis of its etiology, it is helpful for us to know the cardiovascular status compensating for chronic blood loss in the children with habitual epistaxis.