Genetic and Biochemical Predictors of Neonatal Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication of prematurity with a multifactorial etiology, influenced by both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors on the immature lung. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 and -4 (FGFR-3 and FGFR-4) are abundantly expressed in both the epithelium and mesenchyme in the developing mammalian lung. FGFR-4 may play a role in developing BPD as it is associated with airway inflammation and remodeling; studies showed a link between BPD and a polymorphism in the FGFR-4 gene. The aim of this study was to study the significance of FGFR-4 in developing BPD and to investigate the correlation between its serum level and its genetic polymorphism in relation to development of BPD in preterms. This case-control study was performed on 80 preterm neonates (<32 weeks) divided into two groups: group I included 50 preterms with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who developed BPD and group II included 30 preterms with RDS only. The mean serum level of FGFR-4 was significantly lower in group I than in group II (p-<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the serum levels of FGFR-4 and the degree of severity of BPD. Allele variation in the FGFR-4 gene was similar in both groups. The serum level of FGFR-4 was significantly lower in preterms with BPD, although the gene polymorphism was not significantly different in the studied groups.