Blood Test Predicts Chronic Lung Disease in Preterm Babies

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a condition that impacts 65% of preterm infants, leading to chronic lung disease and neurodevelopmental impairments that persist throughout life. BPD typically arises when premature infants require respiratory support and prolonged oxygen therapy, which can damage their developing lungs. Currently, options for predicting, preventing, and treating BPD are inadequate. Diagnoses are often not confirmed until 36 weeks post-menstrual age, delaying interventions that could reduce lung damage and enhance respiratory health. Existing early prediction tools do not effectively address the underlying pathology of the disease. However, timely lung protective measures can modify BPD incidence. More precise care could be administered if the likelihood of lung damage and other complications in these infants were known sooner. Researchers have now developed a blood test that can predict which preterm infants will go on to develop chronic lung disease, facilitating earlier intervention and more focused treatment strategies.

The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI, Victoria, Australia), found that variations in specific blood proteins, combined with factors like gestational age, birth weight, and sex, can accurately predict BPD within the first 72 hours of life. This study involved testing 493 proteins in the blood of 23 infants born before 29 weeks' gestation. Notably, alterations in 49 proteins were observed in infants who later exhibited BPD, with some changes detectable within just four hours after birth. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, provides a detailed overview of the early biological shifts occurring in infants with BPD, offering critical insights into the disease’s early progression. The researchers are now aiming to develop a comprehensive tool for assessing lung injury, which could be utilized across all preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) or special care nurseries to evaluate the risk of developing BPD.

“The tool, including a blood test, would provide clinicians with the ability to guide respiratory decisions from birth, giving these babies more chances towards a healthy life,” said MCRI’s Dr. Prue Pereira-Fantini.

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