Lung function in preterm infants

Very preterm birth is followed by an interruption of normal in utero lung development. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a frequent comorbidity in very preterm infants and is characterized by arrested alveolar and vascular development resulting in impaired lung function and other respiratory morbidity persisting into childhood and even adulthood. Still today, effective preventive and therapeutic strategies are lacking
The mechanisms by which BPD occurs is multifactorial. Perinatal and postnatal inflammation, intrauterine growth restriction and reduced levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) have been proposed mechanisms.
The aim with this project is to evaluate how early postnatal events in 2 cohorts of very preterm infants is associated with lung function at 12 years of age. Early postnatal data of respiratory morbidity, anti- and proinflammatory biomarkers and IGF-1 will be related to a data obtained from a detailed physiological evaluation of lung function.