Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease with peculiar clinical, radiological and histological characteristics. In general, it affects preterm infants submitted to oxygen therapy and to mechanical ventilation in the first days of life. Although the use of steroids to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia isappealing, it is still not possible to provide firm guidelines for the use of postnatal steroid treatment. Neonatologists must balance the benefits of earlier extubation, reduced risks of CLD, and perhaps improved survival when steroids are givenearly after birth16 against the potential risks of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. More long-term follow-up studies of infants enrolled in randomized trials of postnatal steroids are needed.