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Lung injury patterns in newborns, infants and young children - morphological and immunohistochemical approaches
Cornelia Titiana Cotoi1, Sabin Gligore Turdean, Mihai Lazăr Turcu
1Department of Pathology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş, Romania; sabin.turdean@umfst.ro, sabiturdean@yahoo.com.
Insights
Lower respiratory infections are a major cause of death in young children. This study analyzed autopsy data, revealing primary respiratory diseases as the leading cause of mortality in newborns and infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pathology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Lower respiratory infections significantly contribute to child morbidity and mortality.
- Vulnerable populations include newborns, infants, and young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze causes of death in pediatric patients via necropsy protocols.
- To identify prevalent pulmonary pathologies and their patterns in young children.
- To correlate respiratory diseases with congenital defects and other conditions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of necropsy records from 2016-2018.
- Descriptive statistics on necropsies, demographics (gender, origin, age), and causes of death.
- Morphological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical (CD markers) examination of lung tissues.
Main Results:
- Primary respiratory diseases were identified as the leading causes of death.
- Most deaths occurred within the first year of life, particularly the first 30 days.
- Common findings included immature lung, aspiration, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and vascular disease in congenital heart defects.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory diseases are the primary drivers of mortality in newborns and young children.
- Secondary respiratory conditions often exacerbate or precipitate death.
- Understanding these pathologies is crucial for improving pediatric respiratory care and outcomes.
Abstract:
Lower respiratory infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children, especially in newborns, infants and young children. We conducted a retrospective study and we analyzed the causes of death in newborns, infants and young children, in the necropsy protocols from two Departments of Pathology (Mureş County Hospital and Emergency County Hospital of Târgu Mureş, Romania), between 2016-2018. We performed descriptive statistics: number of necropsies per year, distribution by gender (male∕female), by place of origin (rural∕urban), by age and leading causes of death in our study. To establish the pattern of lung injuries, we performed a morphological, histopathological and immunohistochemical study [cluster of differentiation (CD) 3, CD14, CD20, CD31, CD34, CD68]. Our study is showing the most frequent and typical aspects of pulmonary pathologies in fetuses, newborns, infants and young children. In this way, we are highlighting the microscopic aspects of the immature lung, amniotic fluid and meconium aspiration, pulmonary distress syndrome in children, pneumonia, bronchopneumonia and vascular pulmonary disease developed in patients with congenital cardiac defects. Most deaths were recorded in the first 30 days or in the first year of life. Primary respiratory diseases were the leading causes of death in these patients. Secondary respiratory diseases were associated with the major causes of death in these patients as an aggravating or precipitating factor.
