A 29-week preterm neonate is delivered and requires surfactant therapy. The antenatal steroid course was completed 48 hours before delivery. At 2 hours of life, the infant has worsening respiratory distress with FiO2 requirement of 0.40, bilateral ground-glass appearance on X-ray, and air bronchograms. Which surfactant preparation is derived exclusively from a synthetic source and contains SP-B and SP-C peptide analogues?

• A Poractant alfa (Curosurf)
• B Beractant (Survanta)
• C Calfactant (Infasurf)
• D Lucinactant (Surfaxin) ✓

Explanation

Lucinactant (Surfaxin) is the first purely synthetic surfactant that contains a peptide analogue of SP-B (sinapultide, KL4) and phospholipids — it does not contain animal-derived material. Poractant alfa, beractant, and calfactant are all animal-derived (porcine or bovine) natural surfactants containing actual SP-B and SP-C proteins. This distinction is clinically relevant as synthetic surfactants eliminate disease-transmission risk from animal sources.

Reference: Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.