PEDIATRICS Vol. 92 No. 4 October 1993, pp. 564-569
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Increased Leukocyte Elastase of the Tracheal Aspirate at Birth and Neonatal Pulmonary Emphysema

Masanori Fujimura MD1, Hiroyuki Kitajima MD1, and Masahiro Nakayama MD2

1 The Departments of Neonatal Medicine and Pathology, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Izumi, Osaka, Japan.
2 The Department of Pathology, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Izumi, Osaka, Japan.

Objective. The authors have previously shown the association of elevated neonatal serum IgM and chorioamnionitis in infants in whom pulmonary emphysema characteristic of Wilson-Mikity syndrome subsequently developed. This paper extends the observation to the measurement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase-agr1-proteinase inhibitor complex (PMN elastase-agr1-PI) in tracheal aspirates of infants with chronic lung disease.

Patients. Tracheal aspirates were obtained from 90 very low birth weight neonates within 24 hours of birth. Serum also was collected within 72 hours of birth, and placentas were examined for signs of inflammation.

Results. The mean PMN elastase-agr1-PI was significantly elevated (21.8 µg/mg albumin) in infants with a pulmonary emphysema syndrome like that designated by Wilson-Mikity compared either with those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (1.5 µg/mg albumin, P < .01) or those with respiratory distress syndrome in whom bronchopulmonary dysplasia did not develop (2.3 µg/mg albumin, P < .01). Infants with pulmonary emphysema had a significantly elevated mean serum IgM and a high incidence of chorioamnionitis.

Conclusions. The level of PMN elastase-agr1-PI was increased in the tracheal aspirates of newborns in whom pulmonary emphysema developed. Intrauterine inflammation may increase the level of PMN elastase in the fetal respiratory tract. This increase in PMN elastase-agr1-PI in fetal lung tissue may cause lung injury in utero, resulting in postnatal pulmonary emphysema consistent with the Wilson-Mikity syndrome following ventilation.

Key Words: Wilson-Mikity syndrome • bronchopulmonary dysplasia • chronic lung disease • very low birth weight • neonate • polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase • immunoglobulin M • chorioamnionitis

Submitted on April 30, 1992
Accepted on April 22, 1993




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