Neonatal and infant problems of low birth weight.
New therapies are being developed to improve survival of low-birth-weight infants, especially those weighing less than 1000 g. The most exciting new development is the use of surfactant replacement therapy for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. This therapy results in less severe acute lung disease and has decreased mortality from respiratory distress syndrome. As more infants survive, consideration of long-term sequelae including chronic lung disease and neurologic outcome are of paramount importance. This review covers strategies for prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (including surfactant replacement). New and evolving treatments for amelioration of chronic lung disease and issues in neurologic outcome for the low-birth-weight infant (including prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage) are addressed.
Rosenberg
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University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D001623:Betamethasone