Pulmonary Haemorrhage Associated with Neonatal Neurological Disease

Pulmonary haemorrhage (PH) following a neurological insult is referred to as neurogenic pulmonary haemorrhage. This entity has not been described in neonates. We conducted a retrospective study of 50 neonates with PH, with and without a preceding neurological insult. Among 10/22 neonates with a preceding neurological insult, no other predisposing factor or factor associated with PH was identified. Although we speculate that in some neonates, PH may have a neurogenic origin, similar to that described in older patients, a more detailed prospective study is required. Such a prospective study requires sufficient patient numbers and clinical measures to permit a statistically powered analysis of the risk of developing a PH in those with and without neurological injury before we can confidently assert that a neurogenic injury has a causative role in PH.