HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: adc.2003.045807v1 91/1/F36    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in ADC Online Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bourbia, A Articles by Rozycki, H J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bourbia, A Articles by Rozycki, H J

NF-B in tracheal lavage fluid from intubated premature infants: association with inflammation, oxygen, and outcome

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0276, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Rozycki
Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298-0276, USA; hrozycki{at}hsc.vcu.edu

Objectives: To determine if tracheal lavage concentrations of the transcription factor NF-B, which is activated by risk factors associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and induces expression of cytokines associated with BPD, is related to BPD in premature infants.

Design: Serial tracheal lavage samples from intubated premature infants were analysed for cell count and concentrations of interleukin (IL)8 and NF-B, corrected for dilution by secretory component concentrations.

Setting: Level III university hospital neonatal intensive care unit.

Patients: Thirty three intubated infants (mean (SD) birth weight 903 (258) g, median gestation 27 weeks (range 24–31)) in the first 14 days of life.

Main outcome measures: Tracheal effluent NF-B, IL8, and cell counts, corrected for dilution by secretory component measurement.

Results: Square root transformed NF-B concentrations were significantly related to signs of inflammation (cell count, p = 0.002; IL8, p = 0.019) and to simultaneous fraction of inspired oxygen in samples from the first 3 days of life (r = 0.512, p<0.003). Of the 32 subjects with samples in the first 3 days of life, the half who either died or had BPD had higher NF-B concentrations than those without BPD (square root concentration 0.097 (0.043) v 0.062 (0.036) µg/µg protein/µg secretory component, p = 0.018).

Conclusions: Tracheobronchial lavage NF-B concentrations are related to lung inflammation, oxygen exposure, and pulmonary outcome in intubated preterm infants. NF-B activation may be an early critical step leading to BPD.

Abbreviations: BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia; FIO₂, fraction of inspired oxygen; IL, interleukin; NF-B, nuclear factor-kappa B; SC, secretory component

Keywords: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; lung injury; respiratory distress syndrome; cytokines