Lung surfactant plays a crucial role in the prevention of alveolar collapse through its ability to reduce surface tension. systemic inflammatory response syndrome.neonatal equine respiratory distress syndrome.

equine neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome.

This article gives a general review on the role of lung surfactant in respiratory disease followed by an overview of our current knowledge on surfactant in large animal veterinary medicine. However, only a few reports exist on lung surfactant alterations in naturally occurring respiratory disease in large animals. Lung surfactant has been studied in large animal models of human disease. In contrast to human medicine, use and success of FLM testing or surfactant replacement therapy remain limited in veterinary medicine. Analysis of surfactant from amniotic fluid allows assessment of fetal lung maturity (FLM) in the human fetus and exogenous surfactant replacement therapy is part of the standard care in premature human infants. Surfactant dysfunction (qualitative changes in surfactant) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome and asthma. Surfactant deficiency (quantitative deficit of surfactant) in premature animals causes neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Lung surfactant alterations have been described in a number of respiratory diseases. Surfactant-specific proteins are part of the innate immune defense mechanisms of the lung.

In addition, surfactant contributes to smaller airway patency and improves mucociliary clearance. Surfactant lowers alveolar surface tension and is crucial for the prevention of alveolar collapse. Lung surfactant is produced by type II alveolar cells as a mixture of phospholipids, surfactant proteins, and neutral lipids.

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