Prenatal interventions to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in animal models: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify and systematically review in vivo animal studies on antenatal medical interventions to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Methods: An automated literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (Pubmed) and Embase including all studies using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords following a step-by-step approach. All in vivo prenatal intervention studies in animal models mimicking key aspects of the pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia were included. In view of relevance of the findings, an additional criterion was that outcomes at 48 h of life or beyond were available. The PRISMA statement concerning systemic reviews was applied and a quality checklist developed by the CAMARADES group was used.

Results: In total, 518 abstracts were identified yet only eight studies were eligible for further analysis. Four studies involved administration of glucocorticoids, the other studies described therapy with epidermal growth factor, interleukin 1b, beta-naphthoflavone, or vitamin D. Outcomes were survival, pulmonary histology, lung function, and/or biochemical analysis.

Conclusions: Though many in vivo experimental studies in animal models for bronchopulmonary dysplasia have been done, only few have looked into the effect of prenatal interventions and measured outcomes after at least 48 h of life. Most involve the use of antenatal glucocorticoids, although still only four.

• Animal model
• bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• prenatal treatment
• systematic review

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful for the advice of Prof Malcom Macleod from CAMARADES for our methodology section, as well as to Dr Jan Bosteels for his support in generating our databases.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. J. D. P. is beneficiary of a fundamental clinical research grant of the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (1801207), J. T. from the “Klinische Opleidings- en Onderzoeks-Raad” of the University Hospitals Leuven. Our experimental program is supported by the Flemish Hercules foundation (large infrastructure investments AKUL/09/033), by the KU Leuven (OT/13/115) and by the European Commission via its Erasmus Joint Doctoral program (2013-0040). This publication represents the views of the authors. The EC cannot be held responsible from any use which may be made from the information contained therein.