A Risk-Benefit Assessment of Drugs Used for Neonatal Chronic Lung Disease

Improvements in neonatal intensive care have resulted in more extremely low birthweight babies surviving who are at risk of developing chronic lung disease. The preterm lung is vulnerable as it is both structurally immature and deficient in surfactant and antioxidant defences. Mechanical ventilation and high inspired oxygen concentrations are often necessary for preterm babies to survive but they can cause pulmonary inflammation which leads to lung damage. Abnormal healing in the presence of ongoing inflammation leads to airways remodelling which can result in protracted respiratory problems in these babies. A commonly used definition for chronic lung disease is the requirement for supplemental oxygen beyond 36 weeks’ postconception.