Gabriela S. Trindade, Bianca C. Benincasa, Rita C. Silveira, Renato S. Procianoy
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazil
Frontiers in Pediatrics
Front Pediatr 2026; 14:
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2026.1877119
Abstract
Objectives: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains one of the most important complications of extreme prematurity and a leading cause of long-term respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurodevelopmental morbidity. Increasing evidence suggests that BPD should be viewed not only as a parenchymal lung disorder but as a complex cardiopulmonary syndrome involving disrupted vascular development, abnormal transitional circulation, and ventricular dysfunction. This review aimed to summarize current evidence on the hemodynamic mechanisms underlying BPD, emphasizing pulmonary vascular disease (PVD), bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH), phenotype-based classification, and implications for precision management.
Methods: A narrative review of experimental, translational, and clinical studies was performed, focusing on pulmonary vascular development, transitional hemodynamics, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular function, targeted neonatal echocardiography, and biomarker-based risk stratification in preterm infants. Evidence regarding phenotypic classification and individualized therapeutic strategies was also examined.
Results: Emerging evidence demonstrates that abnormal pulmonary vascular growth begins early, often during the transitional circulatory period, and is aggravated by hyperoxia, mechanical ventilation, inflammation, placental dysfunction, and altered pulmonary blood flow. Prolonged exposure to hemodynamically significant left-to-right shunts, particularly patent ductus arteriosus, may contribute to pulmonary overcirculation, edema, and vascular remodeling. Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance leads to right ventricular pressure overload, while left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary venous congestion further worsen pulmonary edema and gas exchange. Early hemodynamic assessment using targeted neonatal echocardiography and biomarkers such as NT-proBNP enables detection of subclinical PVD and ventricular dysfunction during the first days of life. Phenotype-based classification reveals overlapping parenchymal, interstitial, congestive, vascular, and airway components, supporting individualized cardiopulmonary management.
Conclusions: BPD is increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous cardiopulmonary syndrome in which disturbed hemodynamics and impaired cardiopulmonary coupling play central roles in disease progression and prognosis. Early hemodynamic phenotyping may improve risk stratification, support precision-guided interventions, and offer new opportunities to prevent PVD, BPD-PH, and long-term cardiopulmonary sequelae in extremely preterm infants.
Category
Class III. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Disease
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