Lung
Cystic disease / congenital anomalies
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Author: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D.
Last author update: 1 August 2011
Last staff update: 16 July 2020
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: bronchopulmonary dysplasia [title] lung
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Etiology | Clinical features | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Additional referencesCite this page: Weisenberg E. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/lungnontumorBPD.html. Accessed April 26th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Complication of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy for treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
- Infants almost always < 1200 gram birth weight and < 30 weeks gestation
- Definition: requirement for supplemental oxygen for longer than 28 days of age, and a postmenstrual age of at least 36 weeks (eMedicine)
Etiology
- Due to decreased alveolar septation and capillary derangement, secondary to arrested septation of lungs, due to therapy in the saccular stage of lung development
- Free radicals generated by oxygen therapy and inflammatory cytokines play a role in pathogenesis
Clinical features
- Incidence has fallen with use of surfactant therapy in premature infants for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (Semin Perinatol 2006;30:171)
- Respiratory distress continues for months
- Patients have limited pulmonary reserve, develop repeated infections, often have pulmonary hypertension and develop cor pulmonale
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Bronchiolar and interstitial fibrosis, compensatory emphysema of less damaged acini
- Inadequate alveolar development causes fewer but larger alveoli
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Severe fibrosis
Large alveoli
Additional references
