Neonatal outcome of small for gestational age preterm infants.

In our cohort of preterm infants, being SGA was significantly associated with BPD, but not with increased risk of mortality or RDS due to multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms. What is Known: • Small for gestational age preterm neonates are considered to have increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) compared to appropriate for GA neonates. • It is still unclear if SGA infants have increased risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and mortality. What is New: • In our cohort of 515 preterm infants (19% SGA), being SGA was significantly associated with BPD, but not with increased risk of mortality or RDS. • These results may be explained by the heterogeneity of mechanisms leading to SGA condition and by multiple mechanisms involving lung growth impairment and other factors.