Navigating Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges of Pulmonary Hypertension in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Nidhy P. Varghese, Gabriel Altit, Megan M. Gubichuk, Roopa Siddaiah
Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. Montreal Children’s Hospital and McGill University. Children’s Mercy Hospital. Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
United States and Canada

Journal of Clinical Medicine
J Clin Med 2024; 13:
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123417

Abstract
Advances in perinatal intensive care have significantly enhanced the survival rates of extremely low gestation-al-age neonates but with continued high rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Nevertheless, as the survival of these infants improves, there is a growing awareness of associated abnormalities in pulmonary vascular development and hemodynamics within the pulmonary circulation. Premature infants, now born as early as 22 weeks, face heightened risks of adverse development in both pulmonary arterial and venous systems. This risk is compounded by parenchymal and airway abnormalities, as well as factors such as inflammation, fibrosis, and adverse growth trajectory. The presence of pulmonary hypertension in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD-PH) has been linked to an increased mortality and substantial morbidities, including a greater susceptibility to later neurodevelopmental challenges. BPD-PH is now recognized to be a spectrum of disease, with a multifactorial pathophysiology. This review discusses the challenges associated with the identification and management of BPD-PH, both of which are important in minimizing further disease progression and improving cardiopulmonary morbidity in the BPD infant.

Category
Class III. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Disease
Diagnostic Testing for Pulmonary Vascular Disease. Non-invasive Testing
Medical Therapy. Efficacy or Lack of Efficacy
Review Articles Concerning Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes

Scroll to Top