American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2016
Membrane and Capillary Components of Lung Diffusion in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.
Autopsied lungs of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) demonstrate impaired alveolar development with larger and fewer alveoli, which is consistent with our previous physiologic findings of lower pulmonary diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) in infants and toddlers with BPD compared with healthy controls born at full term (FT). However, it is not known whether the decreased DL(CO) in infants with BPD results from a reduction in both components of DL(CO): pulmonary membrane diffusing capacity (D(M)) and Vc. ⋯ Our findings are consistent with infants with BPD having impaired alveolar development with fewer but larger alveoli, as well as a reduced Vc.