SURFACTANT - CURRENT AND POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION IN INFANTSAND ADULTS

Exogenous surfactant administration is currently being evaluated for t he Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Although surfactant sup plementation is now a routine therapy for babies born with neonatal RD S, this treatment modality for adults does not appear to result in a p redictable improvement in lung function as is noted in neonates. This article will review the basic abnormalities of the surfactant system i n patients with ARDS and contrast them with the primary surfactant def icient state of nRDS. Various factors that have been shown to influenc e an individual's response to exogenous surfactant will the be outline d. Finally, potential treatment approaces for patiens with ARDS utiliz ing exogenous surfactant mill be proposed.