Correlation of Biologic Markers with Prenatal Variables and Postnatal Outcomes in Patients with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Principal Investigator: William Peranteau, MD

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a condition in which a hole in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity, preventing normal lung development. In patients with CDH, associated conditions called pulmonary hypoplasia (a condition characterized by small, underdeveloped lungs) and pulmonary hypertension (which causes high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs) can cause significant complications. It remains difficult to predict which patients will have life-threatening pulmonary hypertension and complications associated with CDH.

The purpose of this research is to collect and store blood and tissue samples that can be used to help us investigate whether the amount of cells responsible for the growth of blood vessels in an unborn child is related to how well a child – diagnosed with CDH – responds to clinical care after birth.