The usual treatments for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature babies only slightly reduce the risks for these infants. Promising results from previous studies have shown that stem cell therapy is likely to have a much more positive impact - but unfortunately, there is some way to go. We need to delve a lot deeper into this therapy, so we can improve it to the standard needed for implementation in practice. Several basic questions remain unanswered, such as: which type of stem cells work best? At what time, in which way and in which dose are they most effective? In which patients does the therapy work and in which patients will it have less of an effect? We need much more accurate data on all of these issues. The problem is that the lungs of premature babies are still developing. This adds a layer of complexity to assessing the advantages and disadvantages of any particular treatment, because regrettably, all treatments have their own side effects. These side effects may affect the lungs, but they can also affect other organs, such as the brain. Aside from stem cell therapy, we are also researching the effects of steroids, for example. We know that vitamin A can prevent BPD, but in practice, administering this vitamin correctly to premature babies can be tricky. We are currently at the stage where we can test stem cell therapy on animals. Once these tests start to return positive results, we hope to obtain permission from the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate to start treating premature babies with stem cell therapy at Maastricht UMC+, as to give them the best possible start despite them being born prematurely. Of course, any treatment will only be given in close consultation and with permission from the parents. Subsequently, we will monitor the effects and results of the therapy in these children so we can further optimise the treatment, together with the scientists in our laboratory. On the job Prof. dr. Boris Kramer neonatologist
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