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Pulmonary function in extremely low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia before hospital discharge

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 77–83 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

To compare pulmonary function in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) studied at 34–36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) with a reference group of “healthy” infants born at 34–36 weeks. We hypothesized that ELBW infants have decreased functional residual capacity (FRC) and respiratory compliance (Crs).

Study design

Pulmonary function testing was performed at 34–36 weeks PMA in infants with BPD and within 96 h of age in infants delivered at 34–36 weeks.

Results

Twenty BPD patients and 20 healthy infants were studied. FRC (18.9 versus 26.2 mL/kg; adjusted 95% CI 5.0, 10.9; P < 0.001) and Crs (0.80 versus 1.29-mL/cm H2O/kg; 95% CI 0.31, 0.71; P < 0.001) were decreased in BPD patients. Respiratory resistance was increased in BPD patients.

Conclusions

ELBW infants with BPD have decreased pulmonary function compared to healthy infants delivered at 34–36 weeks. This suggests that infants with BPD have smaller lung volumes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the neonatologists, obstetricians, neonatal fellows, and the staff of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for their help with the study.

Funding

Supported by NIH/NHLBI (K23 HL080231 and R01 HL105447), Office of Dietary Supplements to CTM.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Cindy T. McEvoy, Diane Schilling & Mitzi D. Go

  2. Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA

    Shawn Mehess

  3. Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Manuel Durand

Authors
  1. Cindy T. McEvoy
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  2. Diane Schilling
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  3. Mitzi D. Go
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  4. Shawn Mehess
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  5. Manuel Durand
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Contributions

Drafting the manuscript: all authors; data analysis: SM.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cindy T. McEvoy.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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McEvoy, C.T., Schilling, D., Go, M.D. et al. Pulmonary function in extremely low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia before hospital discharge. J Perinatol 41, 77–83 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00856-z

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