Prevention of hyaline membrane disease with plasminogen. A cooperative study

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Critical Care
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Premature infants face high risks of respiratory distress and mortality.
• Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) is a major cause of death in neonates.
• Plasminogen plays a crucial role in fibrinolysis and tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous plasminogen in preventing adverse outcomes in premature infants.
• To assess the impact of early plasminogen administration on respiratory distress and mortality.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 500 premature infants.
• Infants received either plasminogen or placebo intravenously within 60 minutes of birth.
• Outcomes measured included severe clinical respiratory distress, HMD-related death, and total mortality.

Main Results:

• Plasminogen-treated infants showed a substantial decrease in severe clinical respiratory distress.
• A significant reduction in death caused by hyaline membrane disease was observed.
• Total mortality was substantially lower in the plasminogen group compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Early intravenous administration of plasminogen is effective in reducing respiratory distress and mortality in premature infants.
• Plasminogen therapy shows promise as a life-saving intervention for high-risk neonates.
• Further research into plasminogen's role in neonatal care is warranted.