TY - JOUR T1 - Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy: a prospective follow-up of nine children JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood JO - Arch Dis Child SP - 141 LP - 144 DO - 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302115 VL - 98 IS - 2 AU - Heikki Lukkarinen AU - Anna Pelkonen AU - Jouko Lohi AU - Kristiina Malmström AU - L Pekka Malmberg AU - Merja Kajosaari AU - Harri Lindahl AU - Anna Föhr AU - Olli Ruuskanen AU - Mika J Mäkelä Y1 - 2013/02/01 UR - http://adc.bmj.com/content/98/2/141.abstract N2 - Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) has recently been described as an obstructive airway disease that affects infants aged 1–24 months, and presents typically with tachypnoea, crackles and hypoxia. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown. We describe the clinical course of nine infants with radiologically and histologically confirmed NEHI. Host or environmental factors were not associated with the disease development. All infants with lung function tests demonstrated findings consistent with severe irreversible peripheral airway obstruction, assessed with whole body plethysmography (6/6) or the rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique (5/5). While the symptoms abated in all infants, six infants developed a non-atopic asthma during the follow-up. Systemic or inhaled corticosteroid treatment did not affect the duration of the symptoms. NEHI may mimic severe asthma and thus this entity should be taken into account when evaluating infants with chronic respiratory symptoms. ER -