Genetic and Biochemical Predictors of Neonatal Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication of prematurity with a multifactorial etiology, influenced by both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors on the immature lung. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 and -4 (FGFR-3 and FGFR-4) are abundantly expressed in both the epithelium and mesenchyme in the developing mammalian lung. FGFR-4 may play a role in developing BPD as it is associated with airway inflammation and remodeling; studies showed a link between BPD and a polymorphism in the FGFR-4 gene. The aim of this study was to study the significance of FGFR-4 in developing BPD and to investigate the correlation between its serum level and its genetic polymorphism in relation to development of BPD in preterms. This case–control study was performed on 80 preterm neonates (