Early Pulmonary Vascular Disease in Young Adults Born Preterm

What is it about?

Among young adults born premature, with an average gestational age of 29 weeks and no history of adult cardiovascular or respiratory disease, 45% (5 of 11) have elevated resting pulmonary vascular pressures meeting criteria for borderline or overt pulmonary hypertension. In addition to a stiffer, less recruitable vascular bed, otherwise healthy adults born preterm demonstrate a blunted cardiac response to exercise suggesting early cardiac dysfunction. These findings support the concept that premature birth is associated with an increased risk for the development of adult pulmonary vascular disease, specifically pulmonary hypertension, as well as right ventricular dysfunction. Further studies are needed to determine the etiology and rate of progression of pulmonary vascular and right ventricular dysfunction in this at-risk population.

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