Does heart-type fatty acid-binding protein predict clinical outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery?

INTRODUCTION: The early identification of vulnerable pediatric cardiac surgery patients can help clinicians provide them with timely support. Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein. (H-FABP) is an early biomarker of myocardial injury in acute myocardial infarction in adults. In this study, we evaluated the correlations between postoperative H-FABP, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), troponin-I, total bypass time, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: In 32 pediatric patients that underwent ventricular septal defect. closure we measured H-FABP, troponin-I and CK-MB preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 h after aortic declamping. Spearman's Rho correlations were calculated between laboratory and clinical parameters including inotropic support duration, aortic cross-clamp time, total bypass time, ventilation-weaning-time, and total Intensive Care Unit stay. RESULTS: H-FABP, CK-MB, troponin-I, and total bypass time have a similarly weak to moderate correlation with clinical outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive value of H-FABP for clinical outcome is not stronger than that of CK-MB, Troponin-I, or bypass times.