title: Infasurf and curosurf: theoretical and practical considerations with new surfactants.
abstract: Type II pneumocytes, normally responsible for surfactant production and release, are insufficiently formed and differentiated in the premature infant born before 34 weeks' gestation. Without an adequate amount of pulmonary surfactant, alveolar surface tension increases, leading to collapse and decreased lung compliance. Pulmonary surfactants are naturally occurring substances made of lipids and proteins. They lower surface tension at the interface between the air in the lungs, specifically at the alveoli, and the blood in the capillaries. This review examines the relative benefits of the two most recently marketed surfactants, calfactan (Infasurf) and poractant alfa (Curosurf).
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care, The Women's Hospital of Greensboro, Moses Cone Health System, Greensboro, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Thuy N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cunsolo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.forename: J Laurence
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ransom
keywords: beractant; calfactant; poractant; surfactant