Premature Babies
Benefit From Nitric Oxide In First Hours of Birth - Some Babies With Low
Birth Weight Have Improved Lung and Brain Function
July 26th 2006
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New research shows that when nitric oxide is given to some premature
babies within the first 48 hour of life the risk for brain and lung
damage is lowered. This is the first time a large study has shown a
therapy can lower these risks, according to researchers from the
National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The NIH Director, Elias A Zerhouni MD said “Medical science has
dramatically improved our ability to help very small and premature
babies survive. But as the rate of premature births continues to rise,
it is even more critical that we develop ways to prevent many of the
complications related to prematurity so that these children can lead
healthy, robust lives."
The results form a combined randomized study of 1,400 very low
birthweight premature infants demonstrated that when given within the
first few weeks of life, inhaled nitric oxide helps prevent chronic lung
disease in some low birthweight premature infants.
The therapy has the added benefit, if given within the first 48 hours of
birth, of protecting some premature newborns from brain injury. Because
the lungs of premature babies are not fully developed they have trouble
breathing on their own. The standard treatment, according to the
report, is oxygen and in some cases a ventilator is used to help them
breathe and to protect other organs such as the brain, heart, liver, and
kidneys from damage while the lungs have a chance to mature.
Some doctors began to notice that high levels of extra oxygen or
prolonged use of ventilators can damage the lungs and interrupt normal
development. This can lead to a chronic lung disease known as
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This may lead to other conditions
including ongoing lung problems such as pulmonary hypertension (high
blood pressure in the arteries that supply blood to the lungs),
sensitivities to secondhand smoke, asthma, and respiratory infections.
In extreme cases, it could lead to cerebral palsy, learning
disabilities, impaired growth, and cardiovascular problems.
More than 10,000 babies develop BPD each year. Elizabeth G. Nabel, MD
said “The findings from these two large, multicenter trials should help
us better identify which babies might benefit from inhaled nitric oxide.
Successful and early treatment of breathing problems in these babies
would represent a significant advance in improving the health and
quality of life of a growing number of premature babies." Nabel, is the
director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Marsha Quinn
Writer
Books on Pregnancy
Keywords and misspellings: priatal prenatal pre-natal
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