The role of chronic hypoxia in the development of neurocognitive abnormalities in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is the most common pulmonary morbidity in preterm infants and is associated with chronic hypoxia. Animal studies have demonstrated structural, neurochemical and functional alterations due to chronic hypoxia in the developing brain. Long-term impairments in visual-motor, gross and fine motor, articulation, reading, mathematics, spatial memory and attention skills are prevalent in survivors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and impairments appear to correlate with the severity of hypoxia. However, due to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple neurodevelopmental risk factors, a primary or potentiating role for chronic hypoxia in these impairments has yet to be conclusively established.