Abstract: The invention relates to the field of pulmonary diseases that are related to oxygen provision that is higher than physiological (hyperoxia) and to the use of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for treatment and prevention. Hyperoxic exposure causes a direct cellular damage in the lung and disturbs lung development. The effect becomes clinically prominent by the development of acute or chronic lung disease. There is a need for a pharmaceutical to prevent oxygen induced lung injuries. VEGF is not only a cellular survival factor but also important for lung development. The oxygen concentration regulates pulmonary VEGF expression, with a suppression during hyperoxia. Low pulmonary VEGF concentrations are responsible for oxygen induced effects. According to the present invention VEGF is used as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of pulmonary diseases or conditions that are related to high concentrations of inspired oxygen.