Effect of exogenous surfactant therapy on levels of pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To examine whether exogenous pulmonary surfactants (exPS) substitute for or merely supplement endogenous pulmonary surfactants (enPS) by looking at sequential changes in the surfactant proteins (SP) SP-A and SP-D in alveolar pools.

Methods: Fourteen preterm infants with RDS treated with an artificial surfactant were compared to five normal-term infants without RDS who were treated with artificial ventilation at birth.

Results: Immediately after birth, SP-A and SP-D were essentially absent in the alveolar pools of the RDS group, but were present at normal levels in the controls. Treatment with exPS apparently stimulated enPS production.

Conclusions: In infants who responded well to exPS therapy, the SP concentration reached essentially normal levels within 48-72 h after birth.