Drug therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia

With improved survival of critically ill premature infants, BPD has become an important sequela of neonatal intensive care. A variety of medications are used in the management of BPD. In this article we have attempted to summarize clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and side effects of many of these medications. Longer-term studies on the efficacy of drug therapy are needed and may be facilitated by the development of accurate and reproducible computerized techniques for the measurement of pulmonary mechanics in neonates. Ultimately, new pharmacologic agents or other strategies that will prevent lung injury from hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation or accelerate tissue repair once injury occurs will play a major role in the prevention and treatment of infants with BPD.