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Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
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Published on: October 31, 2025

Pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Patricia R Chess1, Carl T D'Angio, Gloria S Pryhuber

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. patricia_chess@urmc.rochester.edu

Seminars in Perinatology
|July 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants has evolved from a fibrotic endpoint to disordered lung development. Understanding new BPD involves factors like oxygen, ventilation, inflammation, and genetics.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) initially presented as a fibrotic lung injury in premature infants following severe Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS).
  • Advances in RDS treatment have altered the clinical presentation of BPD, shifting focus from fibrosis to impaired lung development.
  • BPD remains a significant challenge, affecting thousands of premature infants annually.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the multifaceted pathophysiologic factors contributing to the "new" BPD phenotype.
  • To discuss the key elements driving disordered or delayed lung development in contemporary BPD cases.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on BPD pathogenesis.
  • Discussion of various contributing factors including environmental, physiological, and genetic elements.

Main Results:

  • The "new" BPD is characterized by abnormal lung development rather than fibrosis.
  • Multiple factors including hyperoxia/hypoxia, mechanical ventilation, inflammation, PDA, nutrition, and genetics play crucial roles.

Conclusions:

  • The evolving nature of BPD necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its complex pathophysiology.
  • Addressing the "new" BPD requires a multi-pronged approach targeting its diverse contributing factors.

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