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[Pulmonary prognosis in preterm infants]

Luciana Friedrich1, Andréa L Corso, Marcus H Jones

  • 1Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS.

Jornal De Pediatria
|April 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Premature birth permanently alters respiratory system development, leading to chronic lung diseases like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and persistent functional deficits into adolescence.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Context:

  • Increased survival rates of preterm infants present ongoing challenges with chronic respiratory conditions.
  • Preterm infants face a spectrum of pulmonary issues, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Wilson-Mikity syndrome, and recurrent wheezing.

Purpose:

  • To review the pulmonary clinical and functional prognosis of preterm infants from infancy through adolescence.
  • To synthesize findings on lung growth, function, and clinical outcomes in this population.

Summary:

  • Prenatal and postnatal factors significantly impact lung development, increasing risks for chronic lung disease, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia as a severe complication.
  • Even preterm infants without severe neonatal respiratory disease experience substantial lung function loss, often underestimated.
  • Clinical manifestations include increased pneumonia, bronchiolitis, hospital readmissions, chronic cough, wheezing, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Impact:

  • Prematurity and associated perinatal events induce lasting changes in respiratory system development.
  • Adolescents born preterm often show normalized lung function but retain reduced airflow, decreased exercise tolerance, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific effects of various perinatal insults on respiratory development.
Abstract

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