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Should we still use vitamin A to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia?

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is associated with significant short- and long-term morbidity in preterm infants, and it can be prevented in some infants with vitamin A prophylaxis. Vitamin A, once widely used in neonatal intensive care, was scarce for the last few years, but has become available again at a much higher price, leading to dilemmas about its routine use. In this review we discuss experimental, clinical and socioeconomic evidence related to BPD, and provide a framework for clinicians and policy-makers to evaluate the value of vitamin A treatment and make decisions about its use for prevention of BPD.

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Couroucli, X., Placencia, J., Cates, L. et al. Should we still use vitamin A to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia?. J Perinatol 36, 581–585 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.76

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