Poractant Alfa Brand Name– Curosurf
What is Poractant Alfa
Poractant alfa (Curosurf) is a porcine-derived lung surfactant that is indicated for the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants.
Poractant alfa replaces pulmonary surfactant, which is deficient in some premature neonates. It also increases lubrication within the alveoli, thus improving expansion and ventilation.
The administration of poractant alfa, as well as other exogenous surfactants, is expected to reduce the severity of RDS but not eliminate the mortality and morbidity associated with other complications in premature neonates.
Poractant alfa has also been used off-label for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following near-drowning. Compared to other commercial pulmonary surfactants,
Curosurf is the most concentrated product on the market; it contains 80 mg phospholipids and 1 mg protein per ml.
Available in Europe since 1992, US FDA approval was granted on November 23, 1999.
Indications
- acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
For the rescue treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
NOTE: Poractant alfa is indicated for the treatment (“rescue”) of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. The safety and efficacy of administering poractant alfa > 15 hours after the initial diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has not been established.
NOTE: Adequate data are not available on the use of poractant alfa in conjunction with experimental therapies of RDS (e.g., high-frequency ventilation).
Side Effects
- apnea
- bleeding
- bradycardia
- cyanosis
- hyperoxia
- hypocarbia
- hypotension
- hypoxia
Monitoring Parameters
- arterial blood gases (ABGs)
- chest x-ray
Contraindications
- acid/base imbalance
- anemia
- bradycardia
- breast-feeding
- hypoglycemia
- hypotension
- hypothermia
- porcine protein hypersensitivity
- pregnancy
Interactions
- Amikacin
- Amphotericin B
- Gentamicin
- Kanamycin
- Neomycin
- Paromomycin
- Spectinomycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Vancomycin
