Chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency of Prematurity: Developing Optimal Endpoints for Drug Development.

Chronic pulmonary insufficiency is the most common health morbidity of extremely preterm birth. It is associated with increased resource utilization during the initial hospitalization, as well as short-term and longer-term respiratory morbidities that drive health care costs and are associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. 1 Schmidt B. Roberts R.S. Davis P.G. Doyle L.W. Asztalos E.V. Opie G. et al. Prediction of late death or disability at age 5 years using a count of 3 neonatal morbidities in very low birth weight infants. J Pediatr. 2015; 167 (e2): 982-986 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (137) Google Scholar Chronic pulmonary insufficiency of prematurity: definitions matterThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 191PreviewIn 1967, Northway et al described the clinical and histologic features of lung injury and repair in infants with prior histories of respiratory distress syndrome and coined a new term, “bronchopulmonary dysplasia,” to describe these findings (N Engl J Med 1967;16:357-68). Since that time, the age of viability has decreased, and management has evolved with increasing use of non-invasive ventilation. Although we now recognize a broader spectrum of pulmonary problems in preterm infants, children, and adults, we continue to define chronic lung disease as the need for supplemental oxygen at a single point in time. Full-Text PDF History of chronic pulmonary insufficiency of prematurityThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 198PreviewWe agree with the use of the term “chronic pulmonary insufficiency of prematurity” by Steinhorn et al to describe “respiratory morbidity after preterm birth during the birth hospitalization and through infancy and childhood.”1 The term was first coined in 1975 by Drs Alfred Krauss, David Klain, and Peter Auld to describe a group of premature infants who initially had normal respiratory function but then developed respiratory distress and apnea spells with deteriorating lung functions at 4-17 days of age. Full-Text PDF