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Relationship of symptoms to lung function abnormalities in preterm infants at follow-up

B Yuksel1, A Greenough

  • 1Department of Child Health, King's College Hospital, London, England.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants with recurrent respiratory symptoms show lung function abnormalities, including lower functional residual capacity (FRC) and higher airway resistance (Raw). These findings suggest gas trapping in symptomatic infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Recurrent respiratory symptoms are prevalent in preterm infants during their first two years.
  • Understanding associated lung function deficits is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify specific lung function abnormalities in preterm infants experiencing recurrent respiratory symptoms.
  • To investigate the relationship between symptoms and objective lung function measurements.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 40 preterm infants (median gestational age 29 weeks) at 12 months postnatal age.
  • Lung function assessed via helium gas dilution (functional residual capacity - FRC) and plethysmography (airway resistance - Raw, thoracic gas volume - TGV).
  • Infants categorized into symptomatic (wheezing/coughing ≥4 days/week) and asymptomatic groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in thoracic gas volume (TGV) between groups.
  • Symptomatic infants exhibited significantly lower median FRC (P<0.01) and higher median Raw (P<0.01).
  • The FRC:TGV ratio was significantly lower in symptomatic infants (P<0.001), indicating gas trapping.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants with recurrent respiratory symptoms demonstrate impaired lung function.
  • Abnormalities including reduced FRC, increased Raw, and gas trapping are associated with these symptoms.
  • Findings highlight the need for monitoring lung function in high-risk preterm populations.

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