BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA - CORRELATION OF RADIOGRAPHIC AND CLINICALFINDINGS

Background and purpose. Abnormalities of the chest wall have been desc ribed in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Clinical, radiographic and pulmonary function variables were evaluated in 1-year-old children ven tilated because of neonatal lung disease in order to quantify these th oracic changes and to evaluate the lung disease. Methods. The pulmonar y status of 51 infants with neonatal lung disease requiring artificial ventilation was reevaluated clinically and radiographically at the ag e of 1 year. Twenty-two of these infants had developed BPD. Thoracic d epth and width were measured clinically and on chest X-ray. The Toce s core evaluated the presence of cardiomegaly, hyperinflation, emphysema and interstitial lung disease. Lung function was measured after sedat ion using previously reported methods. In BPD patients, Toce score and lung function were determined and compared at 1 month and at 1 year o f age. Results. In BPD patients, chest depth was significantly smaller when measured clinically as well as on chest radiograph (P < 0.05; Ma nn-Whitney U-test). There was a statistically significant correlation between chest depth measured clinically and on chest X-ray. Toce score was significantly higher in BPD patients (P < 0.05). In BPD patients intersitial abnormalities and decreased lung compliance were more freq uent at the age of 1 month than at the age of 1 year. At the age of 1 year, hyperinflation was more frequent and at that time increased airw ay resistance was still noted. Thus the type of X-ray abnormality refl ects the type of lung function disturbance. Conclusion. The flatness o f the chest is most likely a consequence of the long-standing lung fun ction abnormalities.