Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as a chronic lung disease affecting preterm infants has been recognized for more than 45 years. However, little progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of the disease. BPD continues to be a major morbidity affecting preterm infants. Studies in pre-adolescent children demonstrate that the abnormal lung function from BPD persists well into childhood. Infants with BPD also have an increased risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Thus BPD imposes a significant burden of adverse health outcomes in preterm infants.

The major risk...