目的探讨重症肺炎时血清脑钠素(BNP)的变化及其与心脏收缩功能的关系。方法对2002年8月至2004年4月在山东省立医院确诊的70例肺炎患儿及20例正常健康儿行超声心动图检查,同时将50只大鼠制成肺炎大鼠30只和正常大鼠20只,也行上述检查;采用酶联免疫吸附法检测上述各组BNP水平。结果肺炎心衰组患儿及左室射血分数(LVEF)下降大鼠组血清BNP水平显著高于健康对照组及正常大鼠对照组,且与LVEF、左室短轴缩短率(LVFS)呈负相关(P<0.05);肺炎心衰组患儿与健康组患儿比较,LVEF下降大鼠与正常大鼠比较,主动脉血流峰值流速(PFVA)、肺动脉血流峰值流速(PFVP)、主动脉血流速度积分(Viao)、肺动脉血流速度积分(Vipa)、LVEF、LVFS显著减少(P<0.05)。结论严重肺炎可引起心衰,血清BNP测定可作为诊断心功能不全的生化指标。 Objective To investigate the changes of serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its relationship with cardiac contractile function in severe pneumonia. Methods Seventy cases of pneumonia and 20 normal children diagnosed in Shandong Provincial Hospital from August 2002 to April 2004 were examined by echocardiography. At the same time, 50 rats were made into 30 pneumonia rats and normal 20 rats, also check the above; using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay BNP levels of the above groups. Results The level of serum BNP in children with pneumonia and heart failure and the decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and normal rats (P <0.05), and were significantly correlated with LVEF, left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (P <0.05) .Compared with normal control group, children with pneumonia and heart failure group had significantly lower aortic flow peak velocity (PFVA), pulmonary artery peak flow velocity (PFVP) Viao, Vipa, LVEF and LVFS of aorta decreased significantly (P <0.05). Conclusions Severe pneumonia can cause heart failure, serum BNP can be used as a biochemical indicator of cardiac insufficiency.