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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

Pathology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Jacqueline J Coalson1

  • 1University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. coalson@uthscsa.edu

Seminars in Perinatology
|July 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Advances in neonatal care improve survival for extremely premature infants. "New" Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) involves impaired alveolization, not arrest, with potential for continued lung development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Significant advancements in neonatal intensive care have improved survival rates for extremely premature infants (born 24-26 weeks).
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) has evolved from "old" BPD (airway injury, fibrosis) to "new" BPD, characterized by altered alveolar and vascular development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the histopathological changes in "new" Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD).
  • To re-evaluate the concept of alveolization arrest in "new" BPD.

Main Methods:

  • Histopathological analysis of lung tissue from infants with "new" BPD.
  • Review of clinical data and outcomes for infants with varying respiratory support.

Main Results:

  • "New" BPD exhibits large, simplified alveolar structures, dysmorphic capillaries, and interstitial changes, differing from "old" BPD lesions.
  • Airway and vascular lesions are observed in infants who develop more severe disease.
  • Evidence suggests "new" BPD is an impairment, not an arrest, in alveolization.

Conclusions:

  • The pathological features of "new" BPD indicate a deviation in lung development rather than a complete halt.
  • Interventions like nCPAP and reduced ventilation times may support continued alveolar formation, challenging the notion of arrested alveolization.

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