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Review
. 2001;2(1):27-32.
doi: 10.1186/rr35. Epub 2001 Jan 11.

Antenatal infection/inflammation and postnatal lung maturation and injury

A H Jobe  1 , M Ikegami
Affiliations
Review

Antenatal infection/inflammation and postnatal lung maturation and injury

A H Jobe et al. Respir Res. 2001.

Abstract

Chorioamnionitis is frequently associated with preterm deliveries before 30 weeks gestation. Chorioamnionitis correlates both with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and with a decreased risk of respiratory distress syndrome. Both interleukin-1alpha and endotoxin can induce inflammation in the fetal lungs and lung maturation after preterm birth when given by intra-amniotic injection. Inflammation can also result in an arrest of alveolarization, and this lung developmental abnormality is prominent in the lungs of preterm infants that die of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The mechanisms by which infection/inflammation can have both beneficial and injurious effects on the preterm lung remain to be characterized.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Lung development must continue for survival of the very low birth weight infant after preterm delivery at 26 weeks. Antenatal infection/inflammation associated with chorioamnionitis can modulate lung development, as can postnatal causes of inflammation such as mechanical ventilation, supplemental oxygen, or infection. The stages of lung development are modified from Burri [1].
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References

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