RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Nature and severity of lung function abnormalities in extremely preterm children at 11 y JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP erj00711-2010 DO 10.1183/09031936.00071110 A1 S. Lum A1 J. Kirkby A1 L. Welsh A1 N. Marlow A1 E. Hennessy A1 J. Stocks YR 2010 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2010/10/14/09031936.00071110.abstract AB Advances in neonatal care have resulted in increased survival of children born extremely preterm (EP). Nevertheless the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and long-term respiratory morbidity remains high. We investigated the nature of pathophysiological changes at 11 years to ascertain whether respiratory morbidity in EP children primarily reflects alterations in the lung periphery or more centralised airway function in this population.Spirometry, plethysmography, diffusing capacity, exhaled nitric oxide, multiple-breath-washout, skin tests and methacholine challenge were used during laboratory-based assessments in a subgroup of the 1995 EPICure cohort and in controls.Results were obtained in 49 EP and 52 control children. Lung function abnormalities were found in 78% EP children, with evidence of airway obstruction, ventilation inhomogeneity, gas trapping, and airway hyper-responsiveness. Levels of atopy and exhaled nitric oxide were similar between the groups. Prior wheeze was associated with significant reductions in forced flows and volumes. By contrast abnormalities of the lung periphery appear to be mediated primarily through EP birth per se.The prevalence of lung function abnormalities, which is largely obstructive in nature and likely to have long-term implications, remains high among 11 year-old children born EP. Spirometry proved an effective means of detecting these persistent abnormalities.