title: Fetal growth restriction and pulmonary hypertension in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the association between birth weight (BW)-for-gestational age (GA) and pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) at 36 weeks in infants with moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, we followed 138 premature infants (≤ 28 weeks) with moderate and severe BPD (National Institutes of Health consensus definition) born at Prentice Women's Hospital between 2005 and 2009. BW percentiles were calculated using the Fenton growth curve for premature infants. PHTN was determined using a standardized algorithm of echocardiogram review at 36 weeks. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between BW percentile subgroups and PHTN, taking into account antenatal and neonatal factors that were related to PHTN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PHTN was associated with small BW-for-GA, ranging from thresholds of <10th to <25th percentile (P<0.001). These associations remained significant when comparing BW <25th percentile to the reference group (50 to 89 th percentile); after adjustment for GA, gender, multiple gestation, race/ethnicity (odds ratio (OR)=4.2; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.5, 12.1); and after further adjustment for maternal vascular disease, intrauterine infection, oligohydramnios and relevant postnatal factors (OR=5.7; 95% CI=1.5, 21.2). Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort showed a trend toward higher morbidity and death among PHTN infants with BW <25th percentile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BW-for-GA is an important predictor of PHTN in premature infants with moderate-severe BPD. Our findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting fetal mechanisms of later onset pulmonary vascular disease.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Check
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Gotteiner
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Su
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Porta
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Steinhorn
authors: K K
authors: KK
authors: Mestan
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal