Overview

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is caused by impaired synthesis and secretion of surfactant

• Premature birth

• Maternal diabetes mellitus: leads to ↑ fetal insulin, which inhibits surfactant synthesis

• Hereditary

• Cesarean delivery: results in lower levels of fetal glucocorticoids than vaginal delivery, in which higher levels are released as a response to stress from uterine contractions

• Hydrops fetalis

• Multifetal pregnancies

• Male sex

Incidence

• 1% of all newborns

• 10% of all preterm babies

• The risk of developing NRDS depends on gestational age.

  • < 28 weeks of gestation: > 50%

  • > 37 weeks of gestation: < 5%