Predictors of Pulmonary Hypertension Risk in Premature Infants With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

A lung condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major cause of poor outcomes and death for premature infants. Infants with BPD are also at high risk for pulmonary hypertension (PH)—an important contributor to their condition. Previous research has suggested that a protein in the blood, endothelin-1 (ET-1), is associated with pulmonary disease.

This study aims to investigate the incidence of incidence of PH and levels of ET-1 among premature babies with BPD. It will also potentially allow us to focus further research efforts and treatment towards these infants, some of our sickest patients at LPCH.This study aims to 1) investigate the incidence of PH among premature infants with BPD versus those without BPD; 2) investigate ET-1 levels in infants with BPD-associated PH versus those without BPD-associated PH; and 3) investigate BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) values in infants with BPD-associated PH versus those without BPD-associated PH. This study will allow us to help define a high-risk population at LPCH—namely, premature infants with BPD-associated PH.