title: Lung function abnormalities in infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), particularly mild BPD, initially had minimal lung function abnormalities, which then worsened throughout the neonatal period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  74 infants with a median gestational age of 30 weeks (24-32) and birth weight of 1200 g (474-2000) were studied; 35 had no BPD, 12 developed mild BPD and 23 developed moderate/severe BPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  BPD was diagnosed in infants who were oxygen dependent beyond 28 days after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung function was assessed by measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC) by helium gas dilution and compliance and resistance of the respiratory system. Measurements were attempted on days 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants developing BPD, particularly moderate/severe BPD, had lower mean FRC (p=0.009) and mean compliance (p=0.005) throughout the 28-day period than those who did not develop BPD. Lung function improved over the neonatal period in all three groups, but the rate of improvement in FRC (p=0.004) and compliance (p=0.002) results over the first 28 days varied by BPD status, being greatest in infants developing moderate/severe BPD (all p values <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, in infants who did and did not develop BPD, lung function improved throughout the neonatal period. Infants with more severe initial lung disease were more likely to develop moderate/severe BPD.
authors: Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, London, UK.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: May
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Kennedy
authors: Anthony D
authors: AD
authors: Milner
authors: Gerrard F
authors: GF
authors: Rafferty
authors: Janet L
authors: JL
authors: Peacock
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Greenough
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index