Airway Epithelial Damage in Premature Infants with Respiratory Failure

To evaluate the evolution of airway epithelial damage in premature infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a detailed quantitative light and electron microscopic evaluation was performed of the major airways in 3 infants who succumbed from respiratory failure. The 3 infants ranged from 24 to 28 wk gestational age and died after 14 h, 10 days, and 6 months of life. The tracheal epithelium was severely damaged with up to half of the …