Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)

Symptoms | Treatments

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What is

Symptoms

How to prevent

Causes and Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatment

What is - Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)

Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD) is caused by deficiency in lung surfactant and is mainly a condition affecting premature babies.

Surfactant is a protein-phospholipid compound found in the lungs and is responsible for keeping the air spaces in the lungs open, enabling gas exchange.

Symptoms of Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)

HMD causes respiratory distress in the baby after birth. It may be mild, needing a little bit of oxygen for a day or two, or severe, leading to respiratory failure and more intensive treatment. A chest x-ray shows typical features of haziness in the lung fields.

Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD) - How to prevent

Severity of HMD is inversely proportional to gestational age. Antenatal steroids given to a mother at risk of delivering a premature baby reduces the incidence and severity of HMD.

Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD) - Causes and Risk Factors

Prematurity, maternal health, Caesarean section, condition of the baby at birth can influence disease severity.

Diagnosis of Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)

Diagnosis is made on the basis of history, need for respiratory support after birth and chest x-ray changes of Surfactant deficiency.

Treatment for Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD)

Surfactant replacement therapy, respiratory support, in addition to optimal neonatal care and management of complications (e.g. pneumothorax) limit the duration and severity of HMD. Respiratory support might be in the form of oxygen therapy, CPAP or mechanical ventilation in severe HMD when non-invasive support is ineffective in maintaining gas exchange.