Background. Dexamethasone (DEX) is used to prevent and treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in lung lavage may be associated with development of BPD. Hypothesis. Early DEX will decrease the level of IL-8 in lung lavage. Methods. Tracheal aspirates (TA) via the endotracheal tube and deep pulmonary lavages (DPL) from a catheter in a distal airway were collected on days 1, 3, 7 and 28 in 40 preterm infants ≤33 wk at birth during a randomized, controlled trial of DEX (0.5 mg/kg, iv) at 12 & 24h for BPD prevention following surfactant administration. IL-8 levels were measured by ELISA with dilution correction by the urea method. Results. There were 19 DEX and 21 control subjects with similar gestational age (27±2 vs 28±3 wk) and birthweight (1029 ± 398 vs 1043 ± 500 g). Seven mothers in each group received antenatal steroids. Both DPL and TA levels of IL-8 were similar on days 1,7, and 28 but lower on day 3. Conclusions. Early postnatal DEX decreased the levels of IL-8 on day 3. This needs to be correlated with other proinflammatory markers and clinical outcomes.Figure

figure 1

Supported by NHLBI SCOR HL36543.