Abnormal Lung Surfactant Related to Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency in a Neonate

[摘要] A low-birth-weight infant, suffering from chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia following hyaline membrane disease and recurrent episodes of necrotizing enterocolitis, developed biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in the plasma. Fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol in the lung lavage fluid was abnormal. Plasma changes includcd a decrease in the level of linoleic acid and an increased level of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, and 5,8, 11-eicosatrienoic acids, the ratio of 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid to arachidonic acid being > 0.4:1. A lower than normal level of palmitic acid and an increased level of palmitoleic and oleic acids were seen in pulmonary surfactant phospholipid components. Upon treatment and recovery from EFA deficiency, the fatty acid pattern both in plasma and surfactant phospholipids returned to normal along with clinical improvement. An association between EFA deficiency and altered fatty acid composition of pulmonary surfactant phospholipids is suggested.

[学科分类] 儿科学