Assessment of the Pulmonary Diffusion Capacity in Healthy Infants and Infants With Chronic Lung Disease

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate how easily gas can be taken up by the lung. We are comparing infants born premature <32 weeks gestation to infants born full term >37 weeks. We hope to evaluate the differences between the two groups in order to learn more about premature lung growth and development.

Detailed Description
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We hypothesize that infants who were born prematurely but are clinically without chronic respiratory disease have a lower lung diffusion capacity than healthy infants born at full term, when evaluated at comparable post-conception ages. In addition, prematurely born infants that develop chronic lung disease have an even lower diffusion capacity than healthy premature infants and full term infants. A lower diffusion capacity, when normalized to lung volume, would be consistent with decreased alveolarization and alveolar surface area in the infants born prematurely. We will study the age range of 1 to 24 month as this represents the period of rapid lung growth.

Official Title
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Assessment of the Pulmonary Diffusion Capacity in Healthy Infants and Infants With Chronic Lung Disease

Conditions
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Asthma, Infant, Premature, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Group 1 Infants born at < 32 weeks gestation with Chronic lung disease Group 2 Infants born at <32 weeks gestation without Chronic lung disease Group 3 Infants born full term at >37 weeks Exclusion Criteria: Group 1 and Group 2--No heart disease, no oxygen requirement Group 3--No hospitalization for respiratory illness, No asthma, No heart disease, No history of wheezing, asthma or treatment with asthma medications.

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

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<br>Group 1: Infants born prematurely at a gestational age < 32 weeks with a diagnosis of chronic lung disease. Subjects will be evaluated at a corrected-age between 1 month and 24 months when they are clinically stable and free of acute respiratory symptoms for > 3 weeks. Subjects will be excluded for the following reasons: Oxygen requirements Congenital heart disease | |
| 2<br>Group 2: Infants born prematurely at a gestational age < 32 weeks without a diagnosis of chronic lung disease. Subjects will be evaluated at a corrected-age between 1 month and 24 months when they are clinically stable and free of acute respiratory symptoms for > 3 weeks. Subjects will be excluded for the following reasons: Oxygen requirements Congenital heart disease | |
| 3<br>Group 3: Infants born full term at a gestational age > 37 weeks. Subjects will be evaluated at a corrected-age between 1 month and 24 months when they are clinically stable and free of acute respiratory symptoms for > 3 weeks. Subjects will be excluded for the following reasons: Hospitalization for a respiratory illness History of wheezing, asthma, or treatment with asthma medications Congenital heart disease | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Infant, Premature, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Asthma