Cardiovascular Consequences of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Prematurely Born Preschool Children

Background: A limited number of studies have reported various short-term cardiovascular changes in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients in the postsurfactant era. Little is known about the course of these changes in children with BPD. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate cardiovascular consequences of BPD at preschool ages and to find out possible risk factors related to cardiovascular sequelae. Methods: Prematurely born children with (n = 21) and without BPD (n = 20) were evaluated with conventional and myocardial tissue Doppler echocardiography at the age of 2-4 years. Results: BPD patients had a decreased pulmonary artery acceleration time and higher left and right ventricular myocardial performance indexes, consistent with higher pulmonary pressures and impaired biventricular systolic and diastolic functions at preschool ages. Low birth weight, disease severity and postnatal cumulative steroid dose were related to these changes. Conclusion: Negative effects of BPD on global cardiac performances of both ventricles and pulmonary arterial pressure persist up to preschool ages. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel