Surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome: are there important clinical differences among preparations?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Respiratory distress syndrome is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among infants born prematurely. The disorder arises from the developmental and biochemical abnormalities associated with preterm delivery. The decreased number of type II alveolar pneumocytes results in absent or reduced surfactant production, which leads to alveolar instability and a tendency to collapse during expiration and increased work of breathing necessitating the institution of supplemental oxygen therapy and positive pressure mechanical ventilation.

RECENT FINDINGS: Exogenous surfactant replacement therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and has become a standard of care in neonatal intensive care units. A number of controversies still exist over a number of issues, however, such as the comparative effectiveness of one surfactant preparation over another, timing of administration, dosing volumes and short versus long-term benefits. Furthermore, the emergence of a newer generation of synthetic, peptide-containing surfactants has opened a new era in surfactant therapy which may have implications for future practice and research.

SUMMARY: This paper discusses these developments and analyses the effectiveness of surfactant therapy against respiratory distress syndrome by appraising the evidence produced from published trials and systemic reviews.