Cord blood IL-6, TNF and gp130 were higher in very preterm infants who subsequently developed BPD (n =35) than in those who did not develop BPD (n =85) (median 1,299 FU in cases vs. 1,054 FU in controls, P =0.34; 514 FU in cases vs. 347 FU in controls, P =0.002; 46,419 FU in cases vs. 34,063 FU in controls, P <0.001, respectively). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.