[The pulmonary surfactant factor. Current knowledge, research trends and use in clinical practice]

Investigation of the composition and significance of individual components of the surfactant indicated that besides phospholipids an important role is played also by surfactant proteins. They aid not only the reduction of the surface tension of the lungs (SP-B, SP-C), but serve also in regulation of surfactant secretion (SP-A) and in local defense and immune responses in the lungs (SP-A and SP-D). Impairments of surfactant were discovered not only in RDS, but also in cases of meconium aspiration, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, idiopathic fibrosis of the lungs, alveolar proteinosis, pneumothorax, and bronchial asthma. Therapy by means of exogenous surfactant was proved effective in therapy of RDS. Occasional cases of exogenous surfactant therapy in other pulmonary diseases are auspicious, it is necessary, though, to develop and produce a sufficient amount of exogenous surfactant of high quality and at an acceptable price and to find an optimal manner of surfactant administration into the lungs. A significant perspective is anticipated to utilization of intrapulmonary administration of the exogenous surfactant as a carrier of further active substances for local administration into the lungs. (Ref. 36.)