Screening Echocardiography Identifies Risk Factors for Pulmonary Hypertension at Discharge in Premature Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

B. A. Madden, M. R. Conaway, S. A. Zanelli, M. A. McCulloch
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. University of Virginia and University of Virginia Children’s Hospital.
United States

Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatr Cardiol 2022; 43: 1743-1751
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-022-02911-2

Abstract
Hypothesis: Premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are at increased risk of secondary pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH). Prior studies yielded mixed results on the utility of echocardiographic screening at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). We present our experience using echocardiographic screening at the time of BPD diagnosis to identify infants at highest risk of BPD-PH at discharge.
Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of clinical/ demographic data and screening echocardiograms in patients with BPD. Discharge echocardiograms identified infants with or without BPD-PH at discharge. 36 weeks PMA screening echocardiograms and clinical data were then reviewed to identify which factors were associated with increased odds of BPD-PH at discharge. Associations between echocardiographic findings were evaluated with 2- and 3-variable models to predict increased risk of BPD-PH at discharge.
Results: In our cohort of 64 infants with severe BPD, BPD-PH was present in 22/64 (34%) infants at discharge. There were no clinical differences at time of 36 weeks PMA screening evaluation (mean PMA 36.6 ± 2.9 weeks). PH at screening was poorly predictive of PH at discharge as PH at screening resolved in 49% of patients. However, having an ASD, RV dilation, hypertrophy, or reduced function on screening, especially in combination, were associated with BPD-PH at discharge.
Conclusion: In our cohort of premature infants with BPD, 36 weeks PMA screening echocardiogram identified patients at increased risk for BPD-PH at discharge when ASD, RVH, or impaired RV function were present. Larger prospective studies are indicated to validate these findings.

Category
Class III. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Disease
Diagnostic Testing for Pulmonary Vascular Disease. Non-invasive Testing

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No

Scroll to Top