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Published on: October 31, 2025

Pathogenesis and prevention of chronic lung disease in the neonate

Debbie Fraser Askin1, William Diehl-Jones

  • 1Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. debbie_fraser@umanitoba.ca

Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America
|February 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Chronic lung disease (CLD), also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), affects premature infants. This review explores its causes, lung development, and current prevention and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease (CLD), is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in extremely low birth weight infants (<1000 g).
  • It often develops in infants requiring prolonged oxygen therapy and positive pressure ventilation.
  • Despite research, the exact etiology and pathogenesis of BPD remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the embryologic development of the lung in relation to BPD.
  • To discuss the pathogenesis of CLD/BPD.
  • To examine current and historical measures for BPD prevention and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of embryologic lung development.
  • Review of pathogenesis studies for CLD/BPD.
  • Synthesis of data on preventative and therapeutic interventions for BPD.

Main Results:

  • The review details lung development and how it is disrupted in BPD.
  • Pathogenic mechanisms contributing to CLD/BPD are discussed.
  • Various strategies for preventing and treating BPD are presented.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding lung development and pathogenesis is crucial for addressing BPD.
  • Continued research is needed to improve preventative and therapeutic approaches for BPD in vulnerable infants.

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