CARDIOPULMONARY FUNCTION IN PREMATURE-INFANTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA - A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Twenty-three premature infants (GA 28.8 +/- 0.5 weeks) with bronchopul monary dysplasia (BPD) and 14 premature infants (controls, GA 33.0 +/- 1.2 weeks) with moderate respiratory distress syndrome or with mild r espiratory disturbances, were evaluated for impairment of cardiopulmon ary function at 50 and 120 weeks corrected age. Respiratory system com pliance was reduced in both groups, but improved with advancing age. R espiratory system resistance was initially increased? especially in th e BPD group, but improved gradually. Maximum flow at functional residu al capacity (V(max)FRC ml/s) indicated, nevertheless, severe periphera l obstruction (flow < 84 ml/s) in 16/20 of infants with BPD and in 7/1 2 of control infants at 50 weeks corrected age. At 120 weeks corrected age none of the control patients had severe peripheral pulmonary obst ruction (flow < 120 ml/s), while this was still found in 5/13 infants with BPD. Doppler echocardiography indicated cardiac involvement (shor tened pulmonary acceleration time) in patients with the most severe pe ripheral pulmonary obstruction. Pulmonary morbidity was also higher in the BPD group, and these infants were shorter and weighed less than t he control infants. Conclusion Measurements of maximum flow at functio nal residual capacity as well as cardiac evaluation are essential elem ents in follow up of infants with severe BPD.