Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: A review of pathogenesis and pathophysiology

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease of primarily premature infants that results from an imbalance between lung injury and repair in the developing lung. BPD is the most common respiratory morbidity in preterm infants, which affects nearly 10, 000 neonates each year in the United States. Over the last two decades, the incidence of BPD has largely been unchanged; however, the pathophysiology has changed with the substantial improvement in the respiratory management of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Here we have attempted to comprehensively review and summarize the current literature on the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of BPD. Our goal is to provide insight to help further progress in preventing and managing severe BPD in the ELBW infants. •BPD remains the most common chronic lung disease of premature infants.•Definition of BPD needs to be standardized.•Maternal smoking and IUGR are significant antenatal risk factors for BPD.•Hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation are significant postnatal risk factors for BPD.•New BPD patients continue to have long-term cardiopulmonary morbidities.