Surfactant deficiency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Surfactant deficiency is a rare condition in which newborns develop respiratory failure due to a deficiency in surfactant. Surfactant is a lipid-rich layer that coats the airways and is essential for proper lung function.
Recent discoveries have identified that a contributor to the surfactant deficiency is the mutation in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A3 (ABCA3) gene. [1] Respiratory distress syndrome, (RDS), is a general clinical term that has been used to describe surfactant deficiency.
The difficult thing about this disorder is that the unborn fetus appears to be healthy until the time of birth when the lungs are unable to properly function. Viability of the infant is generally not more than a few weeks.
[edit] Incidence
In neonates, approximately 50% born between 26-28 weeks and 20-30% of neonates born at 30-31 weeks of gestation develop lung disease due to surfactant deficiency. The disease is more common in males, and in whites (than blacks). [2]
