Overview
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also called chronic lung disease of prematurity, is a serious lung condition that mainly affects babies born too early (premature babies). It develops when a baby's lungs — which are still growing and fragile — are injured during the first weeks of life. This injury often happens because the baby needs help breathing through a ventilator (a breathing machine) or needs extra oxygen to survive. The lungs respond by becoming inflamed and scarred, which makes it harder for the baby to breathe on their own. Babies with BPD may have fast or labored breathing, low oxygen levels, and difficulty feeding or gaining weight. Some babies need oxygen support for weeks or even months after birth. The lungs of a premature baby are not fully developed, and the treatments needed to keep the baby alive — while life-saving — can also cause damage to the delicate lung tissue. Treatment focuses on supporting the baby's breathing, reducing inflammation, preventing infections, and helping the lungs grow and heal over time. Most children with BPD improve significantly as they get older and their lungs continue to develop, though some may have lasting breathing problems into childhood or adulthood. With good medical care, many children with BPD go on to live full, active lives.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Fast or labored breathingNoisy breathing or wheezingLow oxygen levels in the bloodBluish color around the lips or fingertips (cyanosis)Difficulty feeding or tiring easily during feedsPoor weight gain or slow growthFrequent respiratory infections such as colds or pneumoniaNeeding extra oxygen for an extended period after birthRetractions (skin pulling in between the ribs when breathing)Chronic coughExercise intolerance or getting tired easily with activity
Clinical phenotype terms (27)— hover any for plain English
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsEva Rüfenacht — NA
NICHD Neonatal Research Network — NA
University of Alabama at Birmingham — PHASE1, PHASE2
University of Texas at Austin — PHASE2
Hospices Civils de Lyon
University of Alabama at Birmingham — NA
Khang Nguyen — PHASE2
Haukeland University Hospital — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
20 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
2 articlesCaregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How severe is my baby's BPD, and what does that mean for their care at home?,How long is my baby likely to need supplemental oxygen or breathing support?,What signs should prompt me to call you or go to the emergency room?,What medications does my baby need, and what are the possible side effects?,Will my child have lasting lung problems as they grow up, and how will we monitor for those?,Are there any developmental concerns I should watch for, and should my child be referred for early intervention?,What can I do at home to protect my child's lungs and reduce the risk of infections?
Common questions about Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
What is Bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also called chronic lung disease of prematurity, is a serious lung condition that mainly affects babies born too early (premature babies). It develops when a baby's lungs — which are still growing and fragile — are injured during the first weeks of life. This injury often happens because the baby needs help breathing through a ventilator (a breathing machine) or needs extra oxygen to survive. The lungs respond by becoming inflamed and scarred, which makes it harder for the baby to breathe on their own. Babies with BPD may have fast or labored breathing, low o
How is Bronchopulmonary dysplasia inherited?
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Bronchopulmonary dysplasia typically begin?
Typical onset of Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
Yes — 20 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Bronchopulmonary dysplasia on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Bronchopulmonary dysplasia?
25 specialists and care centers treating Bronchopulmonary dysplasia are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.