LUNG PHOSPHOLIPIDS AND SURFACE TENSION CORRELATIONS IN INFANTS WITH AND WITHOUT HYALINE MEMBRANE DISEASE AND IN ADULTS

Abstract

Infants who died with hyaline membrane disease (HMD) had low concentrations of pulmonary phospholipids and reduced concentrations of saturated fatty acids at the alpha position of lung phosphatidyl choline. There was a highly significant correlation (p<.001) between levels below 12.6 mg of pulmonary phospholipid/g wet weight lung and high minimum surface tension values of lung saline extracts. Infants without hyaline membrane disease had high concentrations of pulmonary phospholipids (22.3 mg/g wet weight). Infants who recovered from HMD and died of other causes show values intermediate to those of HMD and non-HMD infants. The excess above the critical minimum noted here suggests a reservoir of pulmonary surfactant.