New clue to preventing deadly infant lung disease

Exciting new research has revealed that low doses of nitric oxide may cut the risk of deadly chronic lung disease in premature infants.

Research has found that giving premature babies nitric oxide gas between 7 and 21 days of age improves their chances of avoiding lung disease and shortens their stay in hospital. Nitric oxide is involved in transporting oxygen to the tissues in the body.

The study examined 582 babies born at an average of 26 weeks and weighing 500 to 120 grams (full term babies are born at around 40 weeks of pregnancy).

All babies were on a ventilator receiving oxygen because their lungs were underdeveloped.

Half the babies received nitric oxide and the other half received a placebo gas for at least 24 days. The rate of survival to 36 weeks without lung disease was 44% in treated infants compared to 37% in the control group, and there were no apparent side effects.

Chronic lung disease is the most common of the many health problems faced by premature infants in their first weeks of life. Respiratory distress syndrome is particularly common among premature babies born weighing less than 1,500 grams.

The condition is life-threatening and can cause permanent tissue damage, slow growth and increase susceptibility to infection even in babies who survive. It is also associated with abnormal brain development.

Remember: Inhaled nitric oxide may provide a simple and effective way to help protect premature infants against the risk of lung disease, but further research is still needed.

Source: New England Journal of Medicine 2006, Jul 27, 2006 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/355/4/343?hits=20&where=fulltext&andorexactfulltext=and&searchterm=nitric+oxide+premature+babies&sortspec=Score%2Bdesc%2BPUBDATE_SORTDATE%2Bdesc&excludeflag=TWEEK_element&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT