Exploring New Treatment Approaches for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in preterm infants

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a significant concern in neonatal care, especially for premature babies dealing with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Recent studies have examined whether using a combination of surfactant and budesonide might improve outcomes for these infants.

One study compared outcomes between using only surfactant and using surfactant plus budesonide. While overall mortality rates and BPD incidence were similar in both groups, there was a notable finding for infants born before 30 weeks of gestation. In this group, adding budesonide significantly reduced mortality, which could help improve survival rates among very premature babies.

Surfactant and budesonide combination also reduced the risk of pulmonary hemorrhage and the need for repeat surfactant doses. This combination therapy seemed particularly effective for infants born before 34 weeks of gestation.

However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the long-term effects.

Marzban A, Mokhtari S, Tavakkolian P. et al. The impact of combined administration of surfactant and intratracheal budesonide compared to surfactant alone on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and mortality rate in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome: a single-blind randomized clinical trial. BMC Pediatr. 2024; 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04736-9