Endostatin and ST2 are predictors of pulmonary hypertension disease course in infants.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common comorbidity of cardiopulmonary disease. Endostatin, an inhibitor of angiogenesis, is elevated in neonates with lung disease. ST2 is a heart failure biomarker correlated with PH in adults. We hypothesized that these biomarkers may be useful in diagnosing PH and categorizing its severity in infants. METHODS: Endostatin, ST2, and NT-proBNP plasma concentrations from 26 infants with PH and 21 control infants without PH were correlated with echocardiographic and clinical features using regression models over time. RESULTS: Endostatin, ST2, and NT-proBNP concentrations were elevated in PH participants versus controls (p<0.0001). Endostatin was associated with right ventricular dysfunction (p=0.014), septal flattening (p=0.047), and pericardial effusion (p<0.0001). ST2 concentrations predicted right to left patent ductus arteriosus flow (p=0.009). NT-proBNP was not associated with PH features. CONCLUSIONS: Endostatin and ST2 concentrations were associated with echocardiographic markers of worse PH in infants and may be better predictors than existing clinical standards.