Hypertension In Preterm Infants Research Articles

Pharmacogenomics-based individualized treatment of hypertension in preterm infants: A case report and review of the literature

Rehabilitation of lower limb amputation in developing countries is quite challenging. Though there are basic to highly advanced prostheses available in India, the set-up is still facing difficulties in developing countries. Prosthetic management is difficult due to lack of availability of prostheses and reduced affordability among low income populations. In this review we highlighted the lower limb amputation and prosthetic rehabilitation status in India. Currently, India is advancing well in the rehabilitation field, but further studies are required to provide more evidence and recommendation.

TO THE ISSUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AN ALGORITHM FOR A DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF PERSISTENT PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN PREMATURE INFANTS

The management of premature infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) remains a major problem in modernneonatology. In recent years, scientifi c studies have identifi ed the role of oxidative stress (OS) in the development and course of PPH. The reserve for reducing mortality and optimizing the management of premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and asphyxia is the development of an algorithm for a diff erentiated approach to the management of PPH in premature infants, taking into account the severity and dynamics of OS, and its implementation into clinical practice.
 Aim of the study. To increase the eff ectiveness of management of premature infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension with asphyxia and respiratory distress syndrome based on the development of an algorithm for a diff erentiated approach to the management of pulmonary hypertension taking into account the levels of oxidative stress as determined by urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).Material and methods. 100 premature infants between 26/1-34/6 weeks of gestation were included in the study: groupI consisted of 50 infants with RDS, group II – 50 newborns with RDS associated with perinatal asphyxia. The presence and severity of PPH was determined in all infants on the fi rst and third to fi fth day of life by echocardiography (EchoCG), and quantitative determination of 8-OHdG level (ng/ml) – in 44 infants on the fi rst day, and in dynamics – on the third to fi fth day of life by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For radiographic evaluation of PPH, all infants underwent chest radiography with determination of Moore’s, Schwedel’s and cardiothoracic index (CTI). The research was conducted in compliance with bioethical requirements as part of the planned scientifi c work of the Department (state registration number 0122U000025).Results. It was found that the characteristics of pulmonary hypertension in premature infants with RDS were signifi cantly lower levels of mean pressure in the pulmonary artery (mPAP) on the fi rst and 3-5 days of life than in children with perinatal asphyxia. It was noted that the factors with high diagnostic signifi cance determining the occurrence of persistent pulmonary hypertension are: birth weight <1500 g; presence of perinatal asphyxia; low Apgar score on the 1st (1-3 points) and on the 5th minute of life (<7 points); gestational age <30 weeks; non-appropriateness for gestational age; male sex. Furthermore, it was found that urinary 8-OHdG levels as a biomarker of OS in preterm infants with RDS and perinatal asphyxia correlated with mPAP on the fi rst and third to fi fth days of life, and that urinary 8-OHdG levels had a high diagnostic value for determining the risk of developing severe PPH on the third to fi fth days of life. The diagnostic signifi cance of the data of the comprehensive radiological assessment of PPH – the radiological indices of Moore, Schwedel, CTI for the development of severe PPH was analyzed and the correlations between the indices and mPAP and between the indices and the level of 8-OHdG were established. The Schwedel index showed the highest reliability in all cases.Conclusion. On the basis of scientifi cally established relationships between clinical, laboratory, radiological and genderaspects of premature infants with perinatal pathology and the identifi ed diagnostic and prognostic values of urinary 8-OHdG, an algorithm for a diff erentiated approach to the management of PPH was developed. Determination of the degree of OS and mPAP in premature infants allows us to adjust and individualize the tactics of respiratory support in the management of premature infants, thus improving the quality of medical care of premature infants with RDS and perinatal asphyxia. In prematurely born children in perinatal centers, additional determination of the severity of RDS based on the level of 8-OHdG in urine allows to predict the adverse course of PPH and the development of complications: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage III-IV grade, retinopathy II-III grade, hearing impairment, hypoxic- ischemic lesions of the central nervous system II-III grade in prematurely born children.

Information based similarity analysis of oxygen saturation recordings to detect Pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex cardiovascular condition associated with multiple morbidities and mortality risk in preterm infants. PH often complicates the clinical course of infants who have bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a more common lung disease in these neonates, causing respiratory deterioration and an even higher risk of mortality. While risk factors and prevalence of PH are not yet well defined, early screening and management of PH in infants with BPD are recommended by consensus guidelines from the American Heart Association. In this study, we propose a screening method for PH by applying a signal analysis technique to oxygen saturation in infants. Oxygen saturation data from infant groups with BPD (41 with and 60 without PH), recorded prior to their clinical PH diagnosis were analyzed in this study. An information-based similarity approach was applied to quantify the regularity of SpO2 fluctuations represented as binary words between adjacent five-minute segments. Similarity indices (SI) were observed to be lower in subjects with PH compared to those with BPD alone (p < 0.001). These measures were also assessed for performance in screening for PH. SI of 7-bit words, exhibited 80 % detection accuracy, 76 % sensitivity and specificity of 83 %. This index also exhibited a cross-validated mean (SD) F1-score of 0.80 (0.08) ensuring that sensitivity and recall of the screening were balanced. Similarity analysis of oxygen saturation patterns is a novel technique that can be potentially developed into a signal based early PH detection method to support clinical decision and care in this vulnerable population.

Pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants with moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

To describe clinical characteristics of pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with moderate to severe BPD (MSBPD) in premature infants born ≤32 weeks gestation. This was a single centre retrospective cohort study, with reanalysis of echocardiographic studies for PH of infants born ≤32 weeks gestation with MSBPD admitted to a tertiary surgical neonatal service. In total, 268 babies with MSBPD were included in the study. Incidence of BPD-associated PH (BPD-PH) was 12.6% (34), of which 41% infants were observed to have severe PH. On multivariate analysis, need for positive pressure respiratory support at 36 weeks post menstrual age (PMA) was independently associated with PH (p = 0.001; 95% CI 2-13.5) Presence of PH and severity of PH were associated with increased mortality. Of babies with MSBPD-PH, 32% died before discharge from the neonatal unit. Babies with MSBPD and PH are more likely to die before discharge from the neonatal unit. Need for positive pressure respiratory support at 36 weeks PMA is independently associated with PH. Babies with MSBPD with less than severe PH are also associated with increased mortality when compared to babies with MSBPD with no PH.

Intravenous sildenafil for treatment of early pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants

Data is lacking on the effect of continuous intravenous sildenafil treatment in preterm infants with early pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Preterm infants (< 37 weeks of gestational age) with intravenous sildenafil treatment and diagnosis of PH between 01/12 and 12/21 were retrospectively screened for analysis. The primary clinical endpoint was defined as response to sildenafil according to the improvement of the oxygenation index (OI), the saturation oxygenation pressure index (SOPI) and PaO2/FiO2-ratio. Early-PH was defined as diagnosis < 28 day of life (DOL). 58 infants were finally included, with 47% classified as very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The primary endpoint was reached in 57%. The likelihood to die during in-hospital treatment was more than three times higher (72 vs 21%, p < 0.001) in infants without response to sildenafil. The echocardiographic severity of PH and right-ventricular dysfunction (RVD) decreased significantly from baseline to 24 h (p = 0.045, and p = 0.008, respectively). Sildenafil treatment leads to significant improvement of the oxygenation impairment in 57% of the preterm infants, with similar response rates in VLBW infants. Intravenous sildenafil treatment is associated with a significant decrease of the PH-severity and RVD.

433 - Achieved oxygen saturations and risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants

433 - Achieved oxygen saturations and risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants

Systemic hypertension in preterm infants and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Systemic hypertension in preterm infants and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Intermittent Hypoxemia and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia with Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants.

Rationale: Bedside biomarkers that allow early identification of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH) are critically important, given the higher risk of death in these infants. Objectives: We hypothesized that infants with BPD-PH have patterns of intermittent hypoxemia (IH) that differ from infants with BPD without PH. Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study of extremely preterm infants from 22 weeks 0 days to 28 weeks 6 days born between 2018 and 2020 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. BPD-PH status was determined using echocardiographic data performed after postnatal Day 28. Physiologic data were compared between infants with BPD-PH (cases) and BPD alone (control subjects). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis estimated the predictive ability of cumulative hypoxemia, desaturation frequency, and duration of intermittent hypoxemic events in the week preceding echocardiography to discriminate between cases and control subjects. Measurements and Main Results: Forty infants with BPD-PH were compared with 40 infants with BPD alone. Infants with and without PH had a similar frequency of IH events, but infants with PH had more prolonged hypoxemic events for desaturations below 80% (7 s vs. 6 s; P = 0.03) and 70% (105 s vs. 58 s; P = 0.008). Among infants with BPD-PH, infants who died had longer hypoxemic events below 70% (145 s vs. 72 s; P = 0.01). Using the duration of hypoxemic events below 70%, the areas under the ROC curves for diagnosis of BPD-PH and death in BPD-PH infants were 0.71 and 0.77, respectively. Conclusions: Longer duration of intermittent hypoxemic events was associated both with a diagnosis of BPD-PH and with death among infants with BPD-PH.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants Treated With Laser vs Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has potential ocular and systemic advantages compared with laser, but we believe the systemic risks of anti-VEGF therapy in preterm infants are poorly quantified. To determine whether there was an association with increased risk of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in preterm infants with ROP following treatment with anti-VEGF therapy as compared with laser treatment. This multicenter retrospective cohort study took place at neonatal intensive care units of 48 children's hospitals in the US in the Pediatric Health Information System database from 2010 to 2020. Participants included preterm infants with gestational age at birth 22 0/7 to 31 6/7 weeks who had ROP treated with anti-VEGF therapy or laser photocoagulation. Anti-VEGF therapy vs laser photocoagulation. New receipt of pulmonary vasodilators at least 7 days after ROP therapy was compared between exposure groups, matched using propensity scores generated from preexposure variables, and adjusted for birth year and hospital. The odds of receiving an echocardiogram after 30 days of age was also included to adjust for secular trends and interhospital variation in PH screening. Among 1577 patients (55.9% male) meeting inclusion criteria, 689 received laser photocoagulation and 888 received anti-VEGF treatment (95% bevacizumab, 5% ranibizumab). Patients were first treated for ROP at median 36.4 weeks' postmenstrual age (IQR, 34.6-38.7). A total of 982 patients (491 in each group) were propensity score matched. Good covariate balance was achieved, as indicated by a model variance ratio of 1.15. More infants who received anti-VEGF therapy were treated for PH, but when adjusted for hospital and year, this was no longer statistically significant (6.7%; 95% CI, 2.6-6.9 vs 4.3% 95% CI, 4.4-10.2; adjusted odds ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.90-2.89; P = .10). Anti-VEGF therapy was not associated with greater use of pulmonary vasodilators after adjustment for hospital and year. Our findings suggest exposure to anti-VEGF may be associated with PH, although we cannot exclude the possibility of residual confounding based on systemic comorbidities or hospital variation in practice. Future studies investigating this possible adverse effect seem warranted.

Clinical Significance of Early Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants

To characterize different phenotypes of early pulmonary hypertension (PH) in preterm infants and their respective associations with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and survival. A prospective cohort study in a tertiary university medical center from June 2016 until March 2019. Infants with a gestational age <30weeks and/or a birth weight <1000g were included. Echocardiographic assessment for PH was performed at 3-10days after birth. Subsequent development of BPD at 36weeks postmenstrual age and mortality were assessed. Early PH was identified in 55% of 104 included infants, including 21% with persistent PH of the newborn (PPHN), 61% with flow-associated PH, and 18% PH without shunt. Only PPHN was associated with placental fetal vascular malperfusion, lower gestational age, and low Apgar score. Both PPHN and flow PH were associated with the development of BPD. Early PH was associated with poorer survival, driven by PPHN. Early PH is highly prevalent (55%) in preterm infants and associated with the development of BPD, independent of the phenotype of PH. Infants with PPHN had the poorest survival. Early PH presents in various phenotypes characterized by differences in etiology, pathophysiology, and associated long-term sequelae.

A prediction model of pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

ObjectivePulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe cardiovascular complication of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) that contributes to the high mortality rates for preterm infants. The objective of this study is to establish a prediction model of BPD-associated PH (BPD-PH) by integrating multiple predictive factors for infants with BPD.MethodA retrospective investigation of the perinatal clinical records and data of echocardiography in all the preterm infants with BPD was performed from January 2012 to December 2019. A prediction model of BPD-PH was established based on the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of the clinical data and evaluated by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), combined with the Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) test. Internal validation was performed with bootstrap resampling.ResultA total of 268 infants with BPD were divided into the BPD-PH group and the no-PH group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictive factors of BPD-PH were moderate to severe BPD, small for gestational age, duration of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus ≥ 28 days, and early PH. A prediction model was established based on the β coefficients of the four predictors. The area under the ROC curve of the prediction model was 0.930. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test (p = 0.976) and the calibration curve showed good calibration.ConclusionThe prediction model based on the four risk factors predicts the development of BPD-PH with high sensitivity and specificity and might help clinicians to make individualized interventions to minimize the disease risk.

Risk factors and short-term prognosis of early pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants

Objectives: To investigate the risk factors and short-term prognosis of early pulmonary hypertension (PH) in preterm infants. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed in preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2012 to December 2019. Eighty preterm infants with a diagnosis of PH between 3 and 14 days (early PH group) were matched in gestational age and sex with the controls (1∶2) of the same period in NICU. Perinatal clinical records, complications, echocardiography and early outcomes were collected. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between the two groups with t-test, nonparametric test or Chi-square test. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the predictive factors of early PH. Results: The gestational age of the early PH group and the control group were both (27.9±1.4) weeks, and 52 (65.0%) and 104 (65.0%) were males in each group, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that birth weights were lower in the early PH group than those in the control group (1 030 (850, 1 200) vs. 1 110 (1 000, 1 278) g, Z=-3.27, P=0.001). The early PH group had higher rates of pregnancy-induced hypertension, prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM) >1 week, born by caesarean, small for gestational age (SGA), 1 and 5 min Apgar score ≤7 scores, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and hemodynamic significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) (12.5% (10/80) vs. 3.8% (6/160), 11.2% (9/80) vs. 3.8% (6/160), 48.8% (39/80) vs. 28.8% (46/160), 10.0% (8/80) vs. 1.9% (3/160), 70.8% (51/72) vs. 51.7% (74/143), 50.0% (36/72) vs. 20.3% (29/143), 88.8% (71/80) vs. 59.4% (95/160), 85.0% (68/80) vs. 22.5% (36/160), χ2=6.56, 5.12, 3.31, 8.05, 7.17, 20.05, 21.58, 84.84, all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictive factors of early PH were PROM >1 week, SGA, 5 min Apgar score ≤7 scores, nenonatal RDS and hsPDA (OR=10.40, 18.61, 4.47, 4.13, 20.10, 95%CI 1.93-56.12, 2.82-122.76, 1.91-10.46, 1.50-11.39, 8.28-48.80, all P<0.05),respectively. Infants with early PH had higher incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), BPD associated PH, severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR), laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and mortality than the controls (all P<0.05). The duration of invasive mechanical ventilation was also longer in the early PH group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Risk of early PH will be increased in preterm infants with PROM >1 week, SGA, 5 min Apgar score ≤7 scores, and comorbidities of nenonatal RDS and hsPDA. Early PH is associated with increased mortality, BPD, BPD associated PH, severe IVH, EUGR and laser treatment for ROP.

Management of Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants—A Review

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn is being increasingly diagnosed in extremely premature infants, especially if associated with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes and lung hypoplasia. Late-onset pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia is because of pulmonary vascular remodeling and altered vasoreactivity. PH in both these settings is associated with around 20% increase in higher mortality and morbidity. The steps in the management of early-onset PH in these neonates, like in term infants, are supportive measures, oxygenation, lung recruitment, and ventilation. In extremely preterm infants, PH occurs because of the paucity of the pulmonary vascular bed and may not respond well to pulmonary vasodilators, such as iNO and sildenafil. Magnesium sulfate can be effective in reducing the pulmonary pressure, especially in resource-limited settings. Milrinone is considered in neonates with PH and poor cardiac function. In preterm infants with PH secondary to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the emphasis is on oxygen therapy, nutrition, and correction of comorbidities along with some role of vasodilators.

Association between pulmonary vein stenosis and necrotizing enterocolitis or gastrointestinal pathology: A case-control study.

ABSTRACTObjective:Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is an emerging cause of pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants. It is an often lethal condition with poor long.term prognosis and high mortality. Previous work suggests an association between necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and PVS, supporting a possible role for inflammatory processes due to gastrointestinal (GI) pathology as an associated risk factor for PVS.Study Description:We performed a matched case–control study where infants with PVS were matched for gestational age with infants without PVS. Hospital records were reviewed for prior history of NEC or other gut pathology.Results:Twenty-four PVS patients were matched with 68 controls; 63% of patients (15/24) had prior GI pathology as opposed to 19% (13/68) of controls. The GI pathology group had a significantly higher growth restriction and C-reactive protein. The mean gradient across the pulmonary veins was higher in the gut pathology group versus controls, as was mortality (29% vs. 9%).Conclusions:The previously described association between PVS and intestinal pathology was further strengthened by this study. The presence of GI pathology should lead to early surveillance and intervention for PVS.

Analysis of related factors of transient hypothyroidism in premature infants

Aim: In this paper, the related factors of transient hypothyroidism in premature infants were discussed, the incidence of THOP was observed, and the risk factors were analyzed to guide future work. Methods: From January 2017 to January 2018, 117 premature infants admitted to neonatology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College were selected and diagnosed with THOP in 48 cases, including 31 males and 17 females.&lt; 1 500 g 17 cases, 1 500 ~ 2 500 g 70 cases, &gt; 2 500 g 30 cases; Gestational age ≤32 weeks 30 cases, 33 ~ 34 weeks 37 cases, 35 ~ 36 weeks 50 cases. Results: The incidence of THOP in different gestational age groups was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05).The incidence of THOP in different weight groups was statistically significant(P &lt; 0.05).The differences of asphyxia, RDS and gestational hypertension in premature infants were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05), while the differences of intracranial hemorrhage, polycythemia, sepsis and hypoglycemia were not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Gestational age ≤32 weeks and gestational hypertension were independent risk factors for THOP. Key words: transient hypothyroidism; correlative factors; premature infants

24-hour blood pressure monitoring and renal function evaluation at the predicted term of delivery in prematurely born children.

B a c k g r o u n d: The cause of the increased risk of hypertension in children born prematurely is still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of blood pressure monitoring and the levels of variety of kidney function markers at the 40-42 weeks postmenstrual age in children born prematurely and to compare them with the values obtained from full-term newborns. The analysis of the differences in the observed parameters could be used to assess the risk of developing hypertension in preterm infants in the following years of life. M e t h o d o l o g y: Prospective cohort study included 37 children born prematurely (<35 weeks of gestation) and 20 full-term newborns. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement, serum cystatin C and thrombomodulin levels, urine Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) concentration, renal ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance were performed. R e s u l t s: Analysis of the blood pressure monitoring reveled lower values of diastolic (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MAP) in the preterm group (DBP: 47.69 ± 4.79 vs. 53.96 ± 5.3 mmHg; p <0.01; MAP 64 ± 6.7 vs. 68 ± 6 mmHg; p = 0.02), however the preterm children were significantly smaller at the time of evaluation. Moreover, the pulse pressure was significantly higher in the preterm group (44 ± 7.8 vs. 39.4 ± 5.7 mmHg; p = 0.017). In the preterm group serum cystatin C level was lower (1.397 ± 0.22 vs. 1.617 ± 0.22 mg/l; p <0.01) and NGAL urine concentration was higher (57 ± 84 vs 15 ± 21 ng/ml; p = 0.04). There was substantial difference in body composition between groups - the total body water was lower in the preterm group (75.6 ± 13 vs. 82 ± 8%; p = 0.015). C o n c l u s i o n: At the predicted date of birth, preterm newborns show significant differences in blood pressure profile, body weight composition, and levels of cystatin C and NGAL compared to full-term babies.

Use of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Preterm Infants: Is There Sufficient Evidence?

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator. The inhaled form (iNO) improves outcomes in term infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) or bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants. However, in preterm infants, the risks and benefits of iNO use are controversial. Substantial evidence reveals no significant impact on survival or other morbidities in preterm infants with iNO treatment, independent of indication, timing, or duration of use. Many scientific organizations do not recommend the use of iNO in preterm infants, except in unique clinical circumstances with echocardiographic findings of PPHN in the setting of presumed pulmonary hypoplasia.

Elimination of Intravenous Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate Exposure Abrogates Most Neonatal Hypertension in Premature Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

(1) Background: The incidence of hypertension in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants in a single neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) dropped markedly during a 2-year period when the IV fluid (IVF) in both the antenatal unit and the NICU temporarily changed to a di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)-free formulation. The objective of the current report is to document this observation and demonstrate the changes in incidence of hypertension were not associated with the variation in risk factors for hypertension; (2) Methods: The charts of all VLBW infants born in a single NICU during a 7-year span were reviewed. This time includes 32 months of baseline, 20 months of DEHP-free IVF, 20 months of IVF DEHP re-exposure, and two 4-month washout intervals. The group of interest was limited to VLBW infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Chi-square analysis was used to compare incidence of hypertension among periods. Vermont Oxford NICU Registry data were examined for variation in maternal and neonatal risk factors for hypertension; Results: Incidence of hypertension in VLBW infants with BPD decreased from 7.7% (baseline) to 1.4% when IVF was DEHP-free, rising back to 10.1% when DEHP-containing IVF returned to use. Risk factors for neonatal hypertension were stable across the 3 study periods in the NICU’s group of VLBW infants; (3) Conclusions: Serendipitous removal of IVF containing DEHP resulted in near elimination of hypertension in one NICU—an effect entirely reversed after the same brand of DEHP-containing IVF returned to clinical use. These results suggest that DEHP exposure from IVF plays a major role in neonatal hypertension.

Management of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants

Management of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants

Short and long-term outcomes of chronic pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants managed using a standardized algorithm.

There is limited data on management strategies for chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) in chronic lung disease (CLD) of prematurity. Our objective was to evaluate clinical outcomes following a standardized policy, wherein only cPH with right-ventricular (RV) dilatation was treated and diuretics were employed as first-line therapy; cPH without RV-dilatation was managed expectantly. In this retrospective cohort study, all infants with CLD were categorized as "CLD-only" or "CLD-cPH," using echocardiography at ≥36 weeks postmenstrual age. Intergroup comparison was performed. Regression analysis examined the association between cPH and primary outcome of death or disability at 18-24 months. Of 128 CLD infants, 48 (38%) had cPH, of which 29 (60%) received diuretics. Symptomatic improvement within 1-week was recorded in 90%. Although CLD-cPH had worse in-hospital respiratory course than CLD-only, all post-discharge respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes were similar. cPH was not associated with death or disability (adjusted odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-3.27). Disease progression treated with sildenafil occurred in 2 (4%) cases. There was no death from respiratory or RV failure. Primary treatment of CLD-cPH with diuretics using RV-dilatation as therapeutic threshold, may result in symptomatic improvement, disease stabilization and post-discharge outcomes comparable to infants without cPH.