E Baraldi, M Filippone, D Trevisanuto, V Zanardo and F Zacchello
Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova School of Medicine, Italy.

To evaluate the physiologic course of pulmonary function in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) weighing less than 1,250 g at birth, 24 infants with BPD underwent serial pulmonary function evaluations from birth until 2 yr of age. All infants were intubated at birth and the mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 38 +/- 4 d. Passive respiratory system compliance (Crs) and resistance (Rrs) were measured between 10 and 20 d of life during mechanical ventilation. Thereafter pulmonary mechanics and functional residual capacity (FRC) were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 mo of postnatal age. Forced expiratory flow (Vmax,FRC) was measured at 2 yr of age. A severe alteration on Crs (50% of predicted) was found during the acute phase of BPD, associated with abnormal values of Rrs. A progressive improvement (ANOVA, p < 0.0001) occurred in the first year of life and, at 24 mo of age, Crs and Rrs reached the range of normalcy. FRC value was 86 +/- 7.5% of predicted at 3 mo and gradually increased to a mean value of 115 +/- 5% of predicted at 2 yr of age. In spite of the good resistance time course over the 2-yr evaluation, less favorable data of Vmax,FRC were found with individual values reduced more than 40% of predicted values in 70% of the children. In conclusion, although pulmonary mechanics of BPD survivors improves during the first years of life, reaching the range of normal values, at 2 yr of age they still present a substantial airway function impairment as revealed by the low forced expiratory flows.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Udomittipong, P. D. Sly, H. J. Patterson, C. L. Gangell, S. M. Stick, and G. L. Hall Forced oscillations in the clinical setting in young children with neonatal lung disease Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2008; 31(6): 1292 - 1299. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Baraldi and M. Filippone Chronic Lung Disease after Premature Birth N. Engl. J. Med., November 8, 2007; 357(19): 1946 - 1955. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Mahut, J. De Blic, S. Emond, M.-R. Benoist, P.-H. Jarreau, T. Lacaze-Masmonteil, J.-F. Magny, and C. Delacourt Chest computed tomography findings in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and correlation with lung function Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2007; 92(6): F459 - F464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Le Cras, W. D. Hardie, G. H. Deutsch, K. H. Albertine, M. Ikegami, J. A. Whitsett, and T. R. Korfhagen Transient induction of TGF-{alpha} disrupts lung morphogenesis, causing pulmonary disease in adulthood Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, October 1, 2004; 287(4): L718 - L729. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Perez and D. J. Weiner Measurement of Forced Expiratory Flows and Lung Volumes NeoReviews, May 1, 2004; 5(5): e202 - e207. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Statement on the Care of the Child with Chronic Lung Disease of Infancy and Childhood Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2003; 168(3): 356 - 396. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Dauger, L. Ferkdadji, G. Saumon, G. Vardon, M. Peuchmaur, C. Gaultier, and J. Gallego Neonatal Exposure to 65% Oxygen Durably Impairs Lung Architecture and Breathing Pattern in Adult Mice Chest, February 1, 2003; 123(2): 530 - 538. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Hofhuis, M. W. A. Huysman, E. C. van der Wiel, W. P. J. Holland, W. C. J. Hop, G. Brinkhorst, J. C. de Jongste, and P. J. F. M. Merkus Worsening of V'maxFRC in Infants with Chronic Lung Disease in the First Year of Life: A More Favorable Outcome after High-Frequency Oscillation Ventilation Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 15, 2002; 166(12): 1539 - 1543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Le Cras, N. E. Markham, R. M. Tuder, N. F. Voelkel, and S. H. Abman Treatment of newborn rats with a VEGF receptor inhibitor causes pulmonary hypertension and abnormal lung structure Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, September 1, 2002; 283(3): L555 - L562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.-F. Hoo, C. Dezateux, J. P. Hanrahan, T. J. Cole, R. S. Tepper, and J. Stocks Sex-Specific Prediction Equations for VmaxFRC in Infancy . A Multicenter Collaborative Study Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2002; 165(8): 1084 - 1092. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. JOBE and E. BANCALARI Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2001; 163(7): 1723 - 1729. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A S Pelkonen, H Suomalainen, M Hallman, and M Turpeinen Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in schoolchildren born very preterm Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 1999; 81(3): 188F - 193. [Abstract] [Full Text]