Catch-up alveolarization in ex-preterm children: evidence from (3)He magnetic resonance

Narayanan, Manjith; Beardsmore, Caroline S.; Owers-Bradley, John; Dogaru, Cristian M.; Mada, Marius; Ball, Iain; Garipov, Ruslan R.; Kuehni, Claudia E.; Spycher, Ben E.; Silverman, Michael (2013). Catch-up alveolarization in ex-preterm children: evidence from (3)He magnetic resonance. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 187(10), pp. 1104-1109. American Lung Association 10.1164/rccm.201210-1850OC

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RATIONALE

Histologic data from fatal cases suggest that extreme prematurity results in persisting alveolar damage. However, there is new evidence that human alveolarization might continue throughout childhood and could contribute to alveolar repair.

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether alveolar damage in extreme-preterm survivors persists into late childhood, we compared alveolar dimensions between schoolchildren born term and preterm, using hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance.

METHODS

We recruited schoolchildren aged 10-14 years stratified by gestational age at birth (weeks) to four groups: (1) term-born (37-42 wk; n = 61); (2) mild preterm (32-36 wk; n = 21); (3) extreme preterm (<32 wk, not oxygen dependent at 4 wk; n = 19); and (4) extreme preterm with chronic lung disease (<32 wk and oxygen dependent beyond 4 wk; n = 18). We measured lung function using spirometry and plethysmography. Apparent diffusion coefficient, a surrogate for average alveolar dimensions, was measured by helium-3 magnetic resonance.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The two extreme preterm groups had a lower FEV1 (P = 0.017) compared with term-born and mild preterm children. Apparent diffusion coefficient was 0.092 cm(2)/second (95% confidence interval, 0.089-0.095) in the term group. Corresponding values were 0.096 (0.091-0.101), 0.090 (0085-0.095), and 0.089 (0.083-0.094) in the mild preterm and two extreme preterm groups, respectively, implying comparable alveolar dimensions across all groups. Results did not change after controlling for anthropometric variables and potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Alveolar size at school age was similar in survivors of extreme prematurity and term-born children. Because extreme preterm birth is associated with deranged alveolar structure in infancy, the most likely explanation for our finding is catch-up alveolarization.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

UniBE Contributor:

Dogaru, Cristian, Kühni, Claudia, Spycher, Ben

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

1073-449X

Publisher:

American Lung Association

Language:

English

Submitter:

Doris Kopp Heim

Date Deposited:

19 Feb 2014 15:29

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:27

Publisher DOI:

10.1164/rccm.201210-1850OC

PubMed ID:

23491406

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.40853

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/40853

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