Congenital pleural effusions usually occur as hydrops or congenital chylothorax. Traumatic (iatrogenic) are the most frequent acquired pleural effusions in a tertiary NICU. Pleural effusions after intra-thoracic surgery are mainly chylothoraces. Non-iatrogenic acquired pleural effusions are associated to several clinical conditions, and mortality is usually associated to the underlying condition.

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Introduction: Various cytokines have been associated to the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm neonates. AIM: To establish an association between cord blood cytokines and BPD, so that they could be used, in clinical practice, as early markers of BPD. Material and methods: Preterms less than 30 weeks gestational age, were analysed by ELISA microassay for venous cord blood IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-10, and compared between the BPD and non-BPD groups. Results: One hundred and fifty neonates completed the study; 31 (21%) small for gestational age (SGA); 16 were deceased before 28 days of life; 36 developed mild BPD and 20 developed moderate/severe BPD. Elevated cord blood IL-8 was associated with death or moderate/severe BPD. SGA patients with moderate/severe BPD presented higher cord blood values of IL-8, lower IL-6 and IL-10 when compared with SGA without moderate/severe BPD; and higher IL-8 levels when compared with patients without moderate/severe BPD. Conclusion: These results support an association between cord blood IL-8 and moderate/severe BPD, independently of the intra-uterine growth; and the association of cord blood IL-6 and IL-10 and moderate/severe BPD in SGA preterm newborns.

The need for oxygen in resuscitation and maintained in first hours of life, male gender, a CPAP pressure over 5 cm H(2)O and surfactant need are predictors of ENCPAP failure in preterm neonates 26 to 30 weeks gestational age.

This study confirms the association between histological chorioamnionitis and cystic periventricular leukomalacia, but was unable to confirm the association between histological chorioamnionitis and intraventricular hemorrhage.