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Pulmonary gas transfer in children and adolescents born extremely preterm

Emma Satrell1, Ola Røksund, Einar Thorsen

  • 1University of Bergen, Bergen.

The European Respiratory Journal
|November 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Extremely preterm infants show modestly reduced lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and KCO, indicating potential long-term respiratory impacts. However, DLCO measurement reproducibility is adequate in these children and young adults.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Extremely preterm birth can impair lung development, affecting gas exchange and long-term lung function.
  • Alveolar development and growth may be altered in individuals born extremely preterm.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare alveolar function, specifically diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), in children and adolescents born extremely preterm versus at term.
  • To assess the reproducibility of DLCO measurements in extremely preterm-born individuals.

Main Methods:

  • DLCO and KCO were measured twice within two weeks in two cohorts of extremely preterm-born individuals (aged 10.6 and 17.7 years) and matched term-born controls.
  • Reproducibility was assessed using coefficients of variation.

Main Results:

  • DLCO measurement reproducibility was adequate and comparable between preterm and term-born groups (coefficients of variation <10%).
  • KCO was significantly reduced by 7.9% in the older and 7.2% in the younger preterm cohort compared to controls.
  • DLCO and KCO were modestly reduced in extremely preterm-born individuals.

Conclusions:

  • DLCO measurement is a reproducible method for assessing lung function in children and young adults born extremely preterm.
  • Modest reductions in DLCO and KCO suggest ongoing alveolar growth throughout childhood in this population.
  • Findings support the need for continued monitoring of lung function in extremely preterm survivors.

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