Increasing evidence indicates that bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) results, at least in
part, from an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, with
a persistent imbalance that favours pro-inflammatory mechanisms. The inflammatory
response is characterised by an accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages in the
airways and pulmonary tissue of preterm infants and, moreover, by an arsenal of pro-
inflammatory mediators which affect the alveolar capillary unit and tissue integrity. As well as …