Biomarkers of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

As the understanding of the pathogenesis of BPD has progressed in recent decades, there has been a focus on the role of inflammation in the pulmonary growth impairment and abnormal vascular development characterized by the “new” BPD. The inflammatory process is often initiated in response to prenatal factors and exacerbated in the postnatal environment by mechanical ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and infection. The measurement of certain molecules involved in the inflammatory process, termed biomarkers, in various compartments (e.g., the serum and pulmonary secretions) of preterm infants has been studied extensively. While the use of biomarkers in the clinical setting is limited, a more comprehensive understanding of their role in the pathogenesis of BPD may provide insights into the identification of infants at the highest risk of developing BPD in addition to developing potential therapeutic strategies to prevent BPD.