Forced Expiratory Flows and Diffusion Capacity in Infants Born from
Mothers with Pre-eclampsia
Abstract
Rationale: Animal models suggest pre-eclampsia (Pre-E) affects alveolar
development, but data from humans are lacking. Objective: Assess the
impact of Pre-E on airway function, diffusion capacity, and respiratory
morbidity in preterm and term infants born from mothers with Pre-E.
Methods: Infants born from mothers with and without Pre-E were recruited
for this study; term and preterm infants were included in both cohorts.
Respiratory morbidity in the first 12 months of life was assessed
through monthly phone surveys. Raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal
compression and measurement of diffusion capacity of the lung to carbon
monoxide (DLCO)) were performed at 6 months corrected age. Results:
There were 146 infants in the Pre-E cohort and 143 in the control
cohort. The Pre-E cohort was further divided into non-severe (N=41) and
severe (N=105) groups. There was no significant difference in DCLO and
DLCO/aveolar volume amongst the three groups. Forced vital capacity was
similar amongst the three groups, but the non-severe Pre-E group had
significantly higher forced expiratory flows that the other two. After
adjusting for multiple covariates including prematurity, the severe
Pre-E group had a lower risk for wheezing in the first year of life
compared to the other two. Conclusions: Pre-E is not associated with
reduced DLCO, lower forced expiratory flows, or increased wheezing in
the first year of life. These results differ from animal models and
highlight the the complex relationships between Pre-E and lung function
and respiratory morbidity in human infants.