title: Surfactant protein B and A concentrations are increased in neonatal pneumonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Term newborns with pneumonia show a reduced pulmonary compliance due to multiple and ill-defined factors. Surfactant proteins' (SPs) changes could have a role in the reduced compliance but the matter is still unsettled. The aim of this study was to clarify the meaning of SPs changes during pneumonia in term newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 28 term ventilated newborns, 13 with pneumonia and 15 with no lung disease, we measured SP-B, SP-A, disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), and total phospholipids (PL) concentrations in tracheal aspirates at intubation and close to extubation. We also measured DSPC kinetics using (U-(13)C-PA)dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, SP-B, expressed as % of PL, was significantly different between the groups, being 3.5-fold higher in pneumonia than controls. Conversely, SP-A did not vary between the groups. At extubation, SP-B and SP-A concentrations had decreased significantly in newborns with pneumonia, while there was no significant change in controls. DSPC t1/2 was significantly shorter in the pneumonia group (11.8 (5.5-19.8) h vs. 26.6 (19.3-63.6) h, P = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In term newborns with pneumonia, SP-B increases with respect to PL, and DSPC is turned over at a faster rate. Disease's resolution is associated with the restoration of the normal ratio between SP-B and PL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Aronco
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.|PCare Laboratory, Pediatric Research Institute "Città della Speranza", Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonato
authors.affiliation: PCare Laboratory, Pediatric Research Institute "Città della Speranza", Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vedovelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baritussio
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verlato
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5304-1485
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nespeca
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Virgilio P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Carnielli
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia/Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cogo
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007700:Kinetics; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000378:metabolism*; D037701:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B / Q000378:metabolism*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D047929:Term Birth; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037701:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B; C017463:lecithins, disaturated