title: Prenatal relationship of surfactant lipid and protein constituents in infants with respiratory distress syndrome: a preliminary communication.
abstract: 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 micrograms, 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wilbur
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Paciga
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shelley
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kanarek
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Balis
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005865:Gestational Age; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000032:analysis*; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011510:Proteolipids; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants