Surfactant protein A concentrations in tracheal aspirate fluid from infants requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 116; no. 3; pp. 435 - 440
• Main Authors: Lotze, Andrea, Whitsett, Jeffrey A., Kammerman, Lisa A., Ritter, Michelle, Taylor, George A., Short, Billie Lou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.03.1990
• Subjects: Body Fluids - metabolism; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lung Compliance - physiology; Proteolipids - metabolism; Proteolipids - physiology; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; Pulmonary Surfactants - metabolism; Pulmonary Surfactants - physiology; Respiratory Insufficiency - metabolism; Respiratory Insufficiency - physiopathology; Respiratory Insufficiency - therapy; Trachea - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)82839-2

To understand the lung abnormalities leading to respiratory failure in infants, we measured 35,000-daiton surfactant protein A concentrations in tracheal aspirate fluid collected dally from 25 infants receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Surfactant protein A concentrations were standardized per milligrams of total protein present in the aspirate. Among the 23 survivors with complete data, the surfactant protein A concentration increased significantly with time ( p<0.0001). Concurrent increases in lung complicance ( p<0.0001) and radiographic scores ( p<0.0001) were also observed. This increase in surfactant protein A content may reflect lung recovery from barotrauma and oxygen toxic effects or be a response to the primary pulmonary disease process. The two infants who did not survive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation failed to demonstrate these trends.