Effect of in utero growth retardation on lung function at follow-up of prematurely born infants

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Published on: July 26, 2017

A Greenough1, B Yuksel, P Cheeseman

  • 1Dept of Child Health, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK. anne.greenough@kcl.ac.uk

The European Respiratory Journal
|November 2, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Premature infants with intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) show more severe lung function issues. This follow-up study highlights increased risk for these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Neonatology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) affects fetal development, potentially impacting postnatal lung function.
  • Premature infants are a vulnerable population with increased risk for respiratory complications.
  • Understanding long-term respiratory outcomes in IUGR infants is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare lung function abnormalities in prematurely born infants with and without IUGR.
  • To identify factors associated with impaired lung function in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of lung function (functional residual capacity, airways resistance, specific airway conductance) in 119 infants (median gestational age 30 weeks).
  • Comparison between infants small for gestational age (SGA, n=31) due to IUGR and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.
  • Regression analysis to determine relationships between lung function, birth characteristics, and clinical factors.

Main Results:

  • SGA infants had lower body weight at testing despite greater gestational age compared to AGA infants.
  • Significant differences in airways resistance (Raw) and specific airway conductance (sGaw) were observed between SGA and AGA groups.
  • Regression analysis linked Raw to IUGR, maternal smoking, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia; sGaw was associated with maternal smoking.

Conclusions:

  • Premature infants with IUGR exhibit more severe lung function abnormalities.
  • IUGR appears to be an independent risk factor for impaired lung function in prematurely born children.
  • Maternal smoking and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are also significant contributors to respiratory issues in this population.

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