CONCLUSIONS
BPD continues to be a challenge for preterm infants worldwide. Today, BPD has an increasing incidence rate, and whilst there are no definitive treatment options, several intricate mechanisms have been identified and associated with the condition. The gut microbiota, as an “invisible organ ” of the host, has been shown to play critical roles in many diseases throughout all of the body systems. A growing number of studies have shown an intrinsic association between gut microbiota and BPD. Although the causal relationship between the two remains to be determined, gut microbial dysbiosis may affect BPD in a number of ways, including altering the gut-lung axis, promoting inflammation, and affecting growth. Therefore, fecal microbiota transplantation or probiotics potentially represent therapeutic options for the treatment or prevention of BPD. Despite these advances, investigations into the associations between gut microbiota and BPD currently remain in the preliminary exploratory stages, and substantial questions need to be addressed urgently. Therefore, further experiments are required to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of this therapeutic modality before identifying gut microbiota as a therapeutic target for BPD. Future directions also need to focus on refining the knowledge related to the specific mechanisms by which the gut microbiota affects BPD.
In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and BPD is necessary and urgent. Comprehending the relationships may add new dimensions to the pathogenesis of BPD and be used as targets for more promising therapeutic approaches.