Sodium transport in airway epithelium correlates with lung compliance in healthy newborn infants

To study the relation between sodium transport in airway epithelium and postnatal pulmonary adaptation, we measured nasal potential difference at 1 to 4 hours and lung compliance at 21 to 48 hours after birth in 20 healthy infants. Sodium transport correlated with lung compliance (r2 = 0.40, P < .003). Airway sodium transport plays a role in postnatal pulmonary adaptation.