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Prenatal relationship of surfactant lipid and protein constituents in infants with respiratory distress syndrome: A preliminary communication
Author(s) -
Wilbur Deborah B.,
Kanarek Keith S.,
Balis John U.,
Paciga June E.,
Shelley Sue A.,
Cohen Gary
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.1950060210
Subject(s) - pulmonary surfactant , respiratory distress , amniotic fluid , medicine , gestation , hyaline , gestational age , phosphatidylcholine , pregnancy , obstetrics , physiology , fetus , phospholipid , biochemistry , pathology , membrane , anesthesia , biology , genetics
The prenatal relationships between surfactant disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and surfactant‐associated proteins of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) have not been well documented. In the present study we measured the concentration of DSPC, surfactant glycoproteins (GP), and surfactant proteolipids (PLP) in amniotic fluids obtained within 6 hours prior to delivery of 16 newborn infants with gestational ages between 27 and 32 weeks. In control infants of 27–32 weeks gestation without RDS, the values of DSPC, GP, and PLP per milliliter of amniotic fluid were 20 ± 2.9 μg, 684 ± 115.3 ng and 289 ± 62.5 ng, respectively. These values were significantly higher, threefold for PLP, fourfold for DSPC, and fivefold for GP, than amniotic fluid levels in infants with RDS. The findings support the concept that immaturity of surfactant in RDS involves both phospholipids and surfactant‐associated proteins. Measurements of surfactant lipid‐protein complex appear to enhance the reliability for identifying prenatally, infants at risk of developing hyaline membrane disease. More extensive studies are warranted to assess the usefulness of these assays for clinical application.