Assessment of vascular indices by abdominal aortic ultrasonography in preterm neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Background: Preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) often experience systemic hypertension, but the exact cause is not yet known. Since there have been no previous studies on the relationship between systemic hypertension and aortic thickness, we conducted this study to evaluate and compare various vascular indices among preterm neonates with BPD, preterm neonates without BPD, and healthy neonates using abdominal aorta ultrasonography. Methods In this cross-sectional study 20 preterm neonates, 20 preterm neonates with BPD, and 20 healthy neonates who were matched for gestational age, weight, sex, and age were included. Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical examination data were recorded. The neonates underwent abdominal aortic ultrasonography to compare the aortic wall thickness and vasomotor function among the three groups. Results The study found that neonates with BPD had a significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure compared to preterm and term neonates(P  0.05). Mean (SD) of aIMT in preterm neonates with BPD, preterm and term neonates were 814(193.59), 497.50(172.19) and 574.00(113.20), respectively(P < 0.05). Mean (SD) of pulsatile diameter in preterm neonates with BPD, preterm and term neonates were 1.52(0.81), 0.91(0.55) and 1.34(0.51), respectively(P < 0.05). After adjusting for birth weight, sex, and gestational age, the study found a significant association between aIMT and BPD. Conclusion The study concluded that the mean aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) was significantly higher in preterm neonates with BPD, which could be an early marker of atherosclerosis and predisposition to higher blood pressure and cardiovascular issues in the future. Therefore, the study suggests that aIMT could be used as a reproducible and well-tolerated marker to identify patients with BPD who are at risk for developing these health issues.