DIFFUSING-CAPACITY OF THE LUNG IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN BORN VERY PRETERM, WITH AND WITHOUT BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA

The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which bronchopulm onary dysplasia (BPD) affects the diffusing properties of lung tissue in childhood. Pulmonary function in 31 prematurely born children (BW. <1250 g) was examined at ages 7-11 years. Twenty out of 31 prematurely born children met the criteria for BPD. The remaining 11 children had milder forms of neonatal lung disease. Twenty healthy children of the same age and born at term served as a control group. The diffusing ca pacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D-LCO) was measured by the sin gle breath method. Lung volumes were determined in a body plethysmogra ph and expiratory flow rates with a flow/volume spirometer. D-LCO valu es of children with histories of BPD did not differ significantly from those of the prematurely born children without BPD. However, D-LCO va lues in both prematurely born study groups were significantly lower th an those in controls born at term. Thoracic gas volumes measured with a body plethysmograph were similar in all groups. Spirometry demonstra ted reduced flow rates in both BPD and non-BPD prematurely born childr en. The results suggest that some structural changes in lung tissues a nd airways persist for years in children who are born very preterm reg ardless of whether they develop BPD or not. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.