The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants

This research aimed to assess the influence of prenatal and postnatal factors on the remodeling of the pulmonary microvasculature. <b>Methods</b>: The investigation analyzed 67 cases of preterm infants, whose lifespans ranged from 1 day to 149 days. After selecting the cases from the aut...

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Main Authors: Raluca Chirculescu, Ruxandra Viorica Stănculescu, Paul Cristian Bălănescu, Gheorghe Peltecu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/650
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author Raluca Chirculescu
Ruxandra Viorica Stănculescu
Paul Cristian Bălănescu
Gheorghe Peltecu
author_facet Raluca Chirculescu
Ruxandra Viorica Stănculescu
Paul Cristian Bălănescu
Gheorghe Peltecu
author_sort Raluca Chirculescu
collection DOAJ
description This research aimed to assess the influence of prenatal and postnatal factors on the remodeling of the pulmonary microvasculature. <b>Methods</b>: The investigation analyzed 67 cases of preterm infants, whose lifespans ranged from 1 day to 149 days. After selecting the cases from the autopsy database, two lung tissue microarrays were created. Histological slides were stained using the hematoxylin and eosin technique to precisely capture the microscopic details. For the assessment of pulmonary microvascularization and the media layer of the vascular walls, an immunohistochemical analysis was performed utilizing CD34 and SMA markers. <b>Results</b>: Following the assessment of the quantity of capillaries positive for CD34, a negative correlation was identified between the average capillary count per alveolus and the duration of oxygen therapy. Preterm infants who developed pulmonary fibrosis exhibited an average reduction of 5.43 capillaries in comparison to other newborns. Preterm neonates born to mothers with preeclampsia exhibited an average reduction of 2.82 capillaries compared to those born to mothers unaffected by this pregnancy complication. A positive correlation was evident between increased thickness of the arteriolar media, lifespan, and the duration of oxygen therapy, as well as in those preterm infants who developed pulmonary fibrosis. <b>Conclusions</b>: Antenatal risk factors did not exert a significant impact on pulmonary vascular remodeling, whereas postnatal influences, particularly oxygen therapy, demonstrated a detrimental effect on the density of capillary structures within the alveolocapillary membrane. Premature neonates with increased thickness of the arteriolar media had a greater susceptibility to pulmonary hypertension.
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spelling doaj-art-0cf3fd3f788d4de78e01ecaddd00fe972025-08-20T03:14:46ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-05-0112565010.3390/children12050650The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm InfantsRaluca Chirculescu0Ruxandra Viorica Stănculescu1Paul Cristian Bălănescu2Gheorghe Peltecu3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaThis research aimed to assess the influence of prenatal and postnatal factors on the remodeling of the pulmonary microvasculature. <b>Methods</b>: The investigation analyzed 67 cases of preterm infants, whose lifespans ranged from 1 day to 149 days. After selecting the cases from the autopsy database, two lung tissue microarrays were created. Histological slides were stained using the hematoxylin and eosin technique to precisely capture the microscopic details. For the assessment of pulmonary microvascularization and the media layer of the vascular walls, an immunohistochemical analysis was performed utilizing CD34 and SMA markers. <b>Results</b>: Following the assessment of the quantity of capillaries positive for CD34, a negative correlation was identified between the average capillary count per alveolus and the duration of oxygen therapy. Preterm infants who developed pulmonary fibrosis exhibited an average reduction of 5.43 capillaries in comparison to other newborns. Preterm neonates born to mothers with preeclampsia exhibited an average reduction of 2.82 capillaries compared to those born to mothers unaffected by this pregnancy complication. A positive correlation was evident between increased thickness of the arteriolar media, lifespan, and the duration of oxygen therapy, as well as in those preterm infants who developed pulmonary fibrosis. <b>Conclusions</b>: Antenatal risk factors did not exert a significant impact on pulmonary vascular remodeling, whereas postnatal influences, particularly oxygen therapy, demonstrated a detrimental effect on the density of capillary structures within the alveolocapillary membrane. Premature neonates with increased thickness of the arteriolar media had a greater susceptibility to pulmonary hypertension.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/650preterm birthmicrovascular pulmonary remodelingbronchopulmonary dysplasiachronic lung diseasealveolar simplificationoxygen therapy
spellingShingle Raluca Chirculescu
Ruxandra Viorica Stănculescu
Paul Cristian Bălănescu
Gheorghe Peltecu
The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants
Children
preterm birth
microvascular pulmonary remodeling
bronchopulmonary dysplasia
chronic lung disease
alveolar simplification
oxygen therapy
title The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants
title_full The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants
title_fullStr The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants
title_short The Impact of Antenatal and Postnatal Factors on the Development of the Pulmonary Microvasculature in Preterm Infants
title_sort impact of antenatal and postnatal factors on the development of the pulmonary microvasculature in preterm infants
topic preterm birth
microvascular pulmonary remodeling
bronchopulmonary dysplasia
chronic lung disease
alveolar simplification
oxygen therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/650
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