thesis
The regulation of CTP:Phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase in fetal type 2 cells
- Publication date
- 22 November 1995
- Publisher
- Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), also known as hyaline membrane
disease, is an important cause of neonatal and infant mortality.
Together with congenital malformations, it is the leading cause of death in
preterm infants and is responsible for serious morbidity in survivors,
associated with high costs to society.
Since 1959 it is known that RDS is caused by lung immaturity with
concomitant surfactant deficiency. Numerous small studies and large
multicenter trials have demonstrated decreased death rates and complications
from RDS as a result of treatment with surfactant. Despite its success
however, surfactant therapy is not a panacea. Recent meta-analyses from the
available data do not show a consistent decrease in long term pulmonary
complications such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, nor in the major nonpulmonary
complications such as intraventricular haemorrhage.