PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S Kotecha
AU  - R J Mildner
AU  - L R Prince
AU  - J R Vyas
AU  - A E Currie
AU  - R A Lawson
AU  - M K B Whyte
TI  - The role of neutrophil apoptosis in the resolution of acute lung injury in newborn infants
AID  - 10.1136/thorax.58.11.961
DP  - 2003 Nov 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 961--967
VI  - 58
IP  - 11
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/58/11/961.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/58/11/961.full
SO  - Thorax2003 Nov 01; 58
AB  - Background: The persistent airway neutrophilia observed in chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) may reflect inappropriate suppression of neutrophil apoptosis. Methods: 134 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were obtained from 32 infants requiring mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): 13 infants (median gestation 26 weeks, range 23 to 28) subsequently developed CLD (CLD group), and 19 infants (gestation 31 weeks, range 25 to 39) recovered fully (RDS group). A further 73 BAL samples were obtained from 20 infants (median age 2 days, range 1 to 402) receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe respiratory failure. Results: Neutrophil apoptosis was increased in the RDS group (mean (SEM) neutrophil apoptosis on day 7 BAL: RDS 17.0 (8.6)% v CLD 0.7 (0.2)% (p<0.05)). BAL fluid obtained from RDS but not CLD patients was proapoptotic to neutrophils (apoptosis ratio BAL fluid/saline control: day 1, RDS 9.8 (5.5) v CLD 1.2 (0.1) (p<0.05); day 2, RDS 4.32 (2.8) v CLD 0.5 (0.4) (p<0.05)). There were similar findings in the ECMO group: survivors had proapoptotic BAL fluid compared with non-survivors (apoptosis ratio day 1, survivors 7.9 (2.1) v non-survivors 2.1 (0.7) (p<0.05)). Conclusions: Inappropriate suppression of neutrophil apoptosis may be associated with a poor outcome in newborn infants with respiratory failure.