Functional morphometry to estimate the alveolar surface area using a premature baboon model

Abstract

The main morphological characteristic of chronic respiratory disease in prematurely born infants is the impaired/arrested alveolar growth that corresponds to a smaller aggregated alveolar surface area (SA). This decreased SA might be the limiting factor later in life affecting exercise capacity and quality of life. There is paucity of sensitive, noninvasive biomarkers to monitor the evolution of neonatal respiratory disease. Our noninvasive functional morphometric SA might help to bridge the gap between pathophysiology and clinical monitoring.