Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Adversely Affects Brain Growth in Preterm Infants

Taiki Shimotsuma1,2, Seiichi Tomotaki1, Mitsuyo Akita1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Neonatology
|April 22, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants is linked to reduced brain growth, particularly in total brain and white matter volumes, by 18 months corrected age.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in preterm infants.
  • BPD is known to affect neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • The impact of severe BPD on brain growth beyond the neonatal period remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of severe BPD on brain growth in preterm infants.
  • To compare brain growth from term equivalent age (TEA) to 18 months corrected age (CA) in infants with and without severe BPD.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-three preterm infants (42 severe BPD, 21 controls) underwent MRI at TEA and 18 months CA.
  • Brain volumes were segmented using the Infant Brain Extraction and Analysis Toolbox (iBEAT).
  • Brain volumes and growth velocities were compared between groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant brain volume differences were observed at TEA.
  • At 18 months CA, infants with severe BPD had significantly smaller total brain and cerebral white matter volumes.
  • Brain growth velocity from TEA to 18 months CA was lower in the severe BPD group for total brain, cerebral cortex, and cerebral white matter.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants with severe BPD exhibit reduced brain growth between TEA and 18 months CA.
  • Severe BPD negatively impacts overall brain development and white matter growth during this critical period.
Abstract