Growth of Airways and Lung Tissues in Premature and Healthy Infants

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the growth of the lung and how easily gas can be taken up by the lung in healthy infants born at full term without any breathing problems and infants born prematurely.

Detailed Description
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SPECIFIC AIM # 1: Determine the relationship between parenchymal tissue and alveolar volume with normal lung growth early in life We hypothesize that during the first two years of life that parenchymal surface area and alveolar volume increase with somatic growth; however, the ratio of surface area to volume remains constant, while ventilation within the lung becomes more homogenous. SPECIFIC AIM # 2: Determine the pulmonary sequelae of premature birth and assess the effectiveness of early treatment strategies upon the pulmonary sequelae. We hypothesize that premature birth impedes growth and development of the lung parenchyma and the airways at a corrected-age of 1-year. In addition, initiating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and a permissive ventilatory strategy in very premature infants at birth will improve lung growth and lung function compared to treatment with early surfactant and conventional ventilation.

Official Title
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Growth of Airways and Lung Parenchyma

Conditions
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Infant, Premature, Diseases, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Asthma

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Group 1 full term greater than 37 weeks Group 3 infants born premature between 23-35 weeks of age to be tested between the ages of two to twenty four months corrected. Exclusion Criteria: heart disease severe developmental delays

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 2 Months
Maximum Age: 24 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| 1-Healthy Infants<br>Group 1: We have recruited 50 healthy infants born >37 weeks gestation, and between 2 and 36 months of age. Infants were excluded for any of the following reasons. Congenital cardio-respiratory disease Hospitalization for respiratory illness Treatment with asthma medications for more than one time Small for gestational age at birth More than one respiratory illness More than one episode of wheezing | |
| 3-Premature Infants<br>Group 3: We will recruit 115 infants born prematurely, 23-35 weeks gestation. Subjects will be evaluated at the corrected age between 2 and 24 months. The subjects will have no oxygen requirements, and be clinically stable outpatients when evaluated. Infants will be excluded for any of the following reasons. Congenital cardio-respiratory disease Severe developmental delay | |
| 2-Healthy Infants CT<br>Group 2: The investigators recruited 50 infants born at > 37 weeks gestation and they were evaluated between 2 and 36 months of age when scheduled for high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging for non-respiratory medical problems. Subjects were enrolled and HRCT of the chest were obtained. Infants were excluded for the following reasons: Congenital cardio-respiratory disease Hospitalization for respiratory illness Treatment with asthma medications | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pulmonary function Test | Forced Expiratory flows, single breath diffusion capacity and alveolar volume | day of testing | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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infant, premature, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, asthma