Endothelial Colony‐Forming Cells in Young Adults Born Preterm: A Novel Link Between Neonatal Complications and Adult Risks for Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

This study is the first to examine ECFC in preterm-born adults and to demonstrate ECFC dysfunction compared with full-term controls. In the preterm-born group, ECFC dysfunction was associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the major prematurity-related neonatal morbidity, and with increased systolic blood pressure into adulthood.