A new blood test can help preemies avoid long-term lung problems The test predicts lung damage caused by being on a ventilator About 49 blood proteins are tied to the lung disorder MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Simantha Nation’s son, Atticus, struggled to breathe from his very first gasp for air. Born very preterm at 26 weeks’ gestation, Atticus was rushed to the NICU, where he was intubated and connected to a ventilator.
The first time Nation saw her son, he was covered in tubes and wires. “It was devastating to see that Atticus couldn’t breathe on his own,” Nation said. Worse, Atticus’ reliance on a ventilator seemed to be doing him more harm than good as time passed.
At 5 months old, the infant neared death. “His health took a dire turn and his condition became critical,” Nation said. ”We were told by staff to say our goodbyes in case he didn’t make it through the night.
I can’t tell you how hard it was, holding him for hours and not being sure if it was the last time.” Atticus was suffering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which occurs when a baby’s lungs are damaged by respiratory support and long-term use of supplemental oxygen. BPD affects 65% of and can result in lifelong chronic lung disease and problems with brain development.
But a new blood test can help predict which preemies will develop BPD, allowing for earlier diagnosis and better treatments, the researchers said. In the study of 23 Australian preemies, changes were.