Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Pages: 134-140

Journal: Acta Paediatrica: Nurturing the Child

Volume number: 110

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0803-5253

eISSN: 1651-2227

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15338

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 

Aim This study determined the prenatal and postnatal risk factors for pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) in preterm infants born at up to 32 weeks of gestational age (GA) and their contribution to severe complications.

Methods We studied 179 preterm infants, who had undergone chest X-rays during the first five days of life at Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, between 2016 and 2017. Of these, 33 were retrospectively classified as PIE and 146 as non-PIE. The PIE cases were also matched with 33 non-PIE cases by GA and gender. Risk factors were identified by univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression.

Results Previously known risk factors for pulmonary interstitial emphysema were confirmed, including GA and birthweight and the associations with adverse outcomes like intraventricular haemorrhage and mortality. We identified preeclampsia and haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome as additional risk factors for PIE (P = .027), and lung impairment was associated with respiratory distress syndrome (P = .001), higher maximum inspired oxygen (P = .014) and needing surfactant (P = .006).

Conclusion Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome were identified as possible additional risk factors for PIE in preterm infants. These conditions should be included in future studies, to identify preterm infants at risk of PIE straight after birth.

Harvard Citation style: Behnke, J., Windhorst, A., Oehmke, F., Berthold, L., Zimmer, K., Waitz, M., et al. (2021) Preeclampsia was a risk factor for pulmonary interstitial emphysema in preterm infants born ≤32 weeks of gestational age, Acta Paediatrica: Nurturing the Child, 110(1), pp. 134-140. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15338

APA Citation style: Behnke, J., Windhorst, A., Oehmke, F., Berthold, L., Zimmer, K., Waitz, M., & Ehrhardt, H. (2021). Preeclampsia was a risk factor for pulmonary interstitial emphysema in preterm infants born ≤32 weeks of gestational age. Acta Paediatrica: Nurturing the Child. 110(1), 134-140. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15338