Pulmonary Surfactants for Acute and Chronic Lung Diseases (Part I)

Abstract

Part 1 of the review gives information on the composition and properties of a pulmonary surfactant and quantitative and qual itative impairments in the pulmonary surfactant system in different neonatal and adult abnormalities and describes the composition of commercial synthetic and natural surfactants. The results of surfactant therapy for respiratory distress syndrome and other lung diseases with secondary surfactant deficiency in the newborns are analyzed.

Keywords

• pulmonary surfactant
• surfactants
• acute and chronic lung diseases
• respiratory distress syndrome
• acute respiratory distress syndrome