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Pulmonary Function and Systolic Blood Pressure in Very Low Birth Weight Infants at 34 - 36 Weeks of Corrected Age

Ladawna L Gievers1, Randall D Jenkins1, Amy Laird2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.

Research and Reports in Neonatology
|June 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with hypertension showed increased respiratory resistance (Rrs). This study suggests a link between hypertension and altered pulmonary function in preterm infants, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Preterm infants face higher risks of systemic hypertension than term infants.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is linked to hypertension in preterm infants, but causation is unproven.
  • Abnormal pulmonary function tests (PFTs), including elevated respiratory resistance (Rrs), are characteristic of BPD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare PFTs in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with and without hypertension.
  • To test the hypothesis that stable VLBW infants with hypertension exhibit altered PFTs.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of VLBW infants (<1500g) who underwent PFTs near 34-36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA).
  • Infants with congenital anomalies or known/suspected hypertensive disorders were excluded.
  • Key data included PFT parameters (Rrs, Crs, FRC) and mean systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Main Results:

  • 14 hypertensive and 45 normotensive VLBW infants were analyzed; groups were similar in gestational age, CGA at PFTs, and BPD prevalence.
  • Hypertensive infants demonstrated significantly higher Rrs compared to normotensive infants (p=0.04).
  • No significant difference in SBP was observed between infants with and without BPD.

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension in contemporary VLBW infants is associated with increased Rrs.
  • These findings suggest a potential link between pulmonary mechanics and hypertension in this population.
  • Further prospective studies with larger cohorts and long-term follow-up are recommended.
Abstract

Keywords:
bronchopulmonary dysplasiahypertensionneonatepulmonary function test

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