Lung structure and function on MRI in preterm born school children with and without BPD: A feasibility study

• Published in: Pediatric pulmonology 2022-12, Vol.57 (12), p.2981-2991
• Main Authors: Elders, Bernadette B. L. J., Tiddens, Harm A. W. M., Pijnenburg, Mariëlle W. H., Reiss, Irwin K. M., Wielopolski, Piotr A., Ciet, Pierluigi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - diagnostic imaging; Child; Feasibility Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; imaging; Infant, Newborn; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; MRI; Original; paediatric; Spirometry; Ventilation
• ISSN: 8755-6863; 1099-0496
• DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26119

Background and Objective The most common respiratory complication of prematurity is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), leading to structural lung changes and impaired respiratory outcomes. However, also preterm children without BPD may show similar adverse respiratory outcomes. There is a need for a safe imaging modality for preterm children with and without BPD for disease severity assessment and risk stratification. Our objective was to develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol in preterm children with and without BPD at school age. Methods Nine healthy volunteers (median age 11.6 [range: 8.8–12.8] years), 11 preterm children with BPD (11.0 [7.2–15.6] years), and 9 without BPD (11.1 [10.7–12.6] years) underwent MRI. Images were scored on hypo‐ and hyperintense abnormalities, bronchopathy, and architectural distortion. MRI data were correlated to spirometry. Ventilation and perfusion defects were analyzed using Fourier Decomposition (FD) MRI. Results On MRI, children with BPD had higher %diseased lung (9.1 (interquartile range [IQR] 5.9–11.6)%) compared to preterm children without BPD (3.4 (IQR 2.5–5.4)%, p