Low-Dose Unfractionated Heparin Administration Inhibits Pulmonary Growth and Development

Background: Pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). PH is characterized by immature pulmonary growth and development. Neonates with severe PH necessitating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and therapeutic anticoagulation have mortality rates of nearly 50%. Previously, we demonstrated that following pneumonectomy, therapeutic or high-dose heparin administration significantly decreased compensatory lung growth and development. While only a minority of neonates with CDH-associated PH will …