hyaline membrane disease

hyaline

 [hi´ah-līn]

glassy; pellucid.

hyaline membrane disease a disorder of newborns, typically preterm, characterized by the formation of a hyalinlike membrane lining the terminal respiratory passages. Newborns with this disease do not secrete adequate quantities of surfactant, which is secreted by the epithelium of the alveoli and normally decreases the surface tension of the fluids lining the alveoli and bronchioles so that air can pass through the fluids and into the alveoli. If the surface tension is not kept low by adequate supplies of surfactant, the alveoli cannot fill with air and there is partial or complete collapse of the lung (atelectasis). Thus the newborn with hyaline membrane disease suffers from respiratory insufficiency with severe dyspnea and cyanosis. The condition is treated with surfactant instillation, oxygen, and positive pressure. See also respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

hyaline membrane disease

n.

See respiratory distress syndrome.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

hyaline membrane disease

Respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn Pediatrics A morbid condition linked to up to 50% of neonatal deaths in the US–40,000/yr Clinical Atelectasis, hypoventilation, hypotensive shock, pulmonary vasoconstriction, alveolar hypoperfusion, shut-down of cell metabolism; 60% of HMD affects infants < 28 wks of age; 5% in infants > 37 wks Pathogenesis Surfactant deficiency, related to prematurity–insufficient phosphatidyl glycerol, intrapartum hypoxia, 'subacute' fetal distress, acidosis, family predisposition, α₁-antitrypsin deficiency, thyroxine, prolactin, cortisol, estrogen; HMD is more frequent in the 2^nd twin delivered, twin-to-twin transfusion recipient infant, ♂ infants, children of diabetic mothers and in cesarean sections; a vicious cycle begins where ↓ surfactant results in atelectasis, ↓ ventilation–↑ pCO₂, ↓ pH, ↓ O₂ and hypoxia exacerbating the lack of surfactant, causing shock and more hypoxia Clinical Early onset of tachypnea, prominent grunting, intercostal retractions–air hunger, cyanosis; the infants may not respond to O₂; blood pressure and corporal temperature fall, asphyxia intervenes and causes death, or the symptoms peak at 3 days and the infant recovers DiffDx Neonatal pneumonia, birth-related asphyxia, group B streptococcal sepsis, cyanotic heart disease Treatment Supportive–O₂, correction of acidosis, surfactant therapy

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

res·pi·ra·to·ry dis·tress syn·drome of the new·born

(res'pir-ă-tōr-ē dis-tres' sin'drōm nū'bōrn)

An acute lung condition of newborn babies, characterized by tachypnea, nasal flaring, and respiratory grunting. The condition occurs primarily in premature babies due to a lack of surfactant, causing alveolar collapse.
Synonym(s): hyaline membrane disease.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Patient discussion about hyaline membrane disease

Q. HYALINE MEMBRANE DISEASE in pre-mature infants;what are the causes of it in pregnant women?

A. the cause of Hyaline Membrane disease is pre-mature birth. while the fetus develop, about in the 29th week a substance called surfactant is created in the lungs. this substance's function is to change the surface tension of the fluid in the lungs- therefore decreasing it's force. the surface tension tends to shrink the lungs and can cause the lungs to collapse. so a premature baby wouldn't be able to breath properly.

This content is provided by iMedix and is subject to iMedix Terms. The Questions and Answers are not endorsed or recommended and are made available by patients, not doctors.