Placental Neutrophil Infiltration Associated with Tobacco Exposure but Not Development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Objective: In utero inflammation is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. We hypothesized that maternal tobacco exposure (TE) might induce placental neutrophil infiltration, increasing the risk for BPD. Study design: We compared the composite outcome of BPD and death in a prospective pilot study of TE and no-TE mothers and their infants born <32 weeks.