Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Curosurf(R) and Newfactan(R) in Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of modified porcine (Curosurf(R)) and bovine (Newfactan(R)) surfactants in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. METHODS: Between April 2004 and December 2006, 65 neonates (birth weight < or =2,500 g and gestational age < or =35 weeks) with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were treated in our neonatal intensive care unit with surfactant. Thirty-one neonates received Curosurf(R) and 34 neonates received Newfactan(R). The neonates were not enrolled if they had major congenital anomalies or meconium aspiration syndrome. We compared the changes in respiratory parameters after surfactant instillation, the incidences of acute and chronic complications, and the mortality between the two treatment groups. RESULTS: Neonatal and maternal demographic characteristics were not different between the groups. The patterns of change in the respiratory parameters after surfactant instillation were not statistically different between the groups. The incidences of surfactant reinstillation and acute complications, such as pneumothorax, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hemorrhage, and grade 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage, were not different between the neonates who received Curosurf(R) and the neonates who received Newfactan(R). There were no statistically significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, hospitalization, prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and mortality between the groups. CONCLUSION: In the present comparative study, no significant differences in the clinical effects of Curosurf(R) and Newfactan(R) were observed.