Serum cytokine levels in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: predictive impact for the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation?

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a common cause of neonatal respiratory failure and a malformation associated with high mortality and morbidity. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of treatment options for CDH. Despite the ultrasound based lung-to-head ratio and the fetal lung volume determination, there is no reliable prenatal parameter for the clinical course and outcome of fetuses with CDH, in particular for the need of ECMO. Aim: The objective of the study was to investigate serum cytokine profiles and immune response from newborns with CDH requiring ECMO compared to CDH inf…