Molecular-targeted drugs affect the various molecules associated with cancer cell progression, infiltration, and metastasis. Recently, advances in molecular biology identified molecules associated with cancer and inflammatory disease, and new molecular-targeted drugs being developed accordingly. Unlike cytotoxic anticancer agents, molecular-targeted drugs act on cancer-specific molecules, causing less damage to normal cells. Consequently, there are fewer adverse events specific to molecular-targeted drugs. These advances in drug development promise new effective treatments for gastroenterological diseases.

Introduction: The stable microbubble test (SMT) determines the activity of a surfactant. SMT is useful for the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome. We investigated the relationship between SMT and respiratory outcomes in the chronic phase in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 32 VLBWI who underwent SMT soon after being admitted to our institution. The median gestational age was 27.4 weeks and the median birth body weight was 968 g. We classified cases with SMT of 0-10/mm² as the premature group and those with SMT of >10/mm² as the mature group. We investigated days of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, the incidence rate and clinical course of chronic lung disease (CLD), and the need of home care in both groups.

Results: There were 20 cases in the premature group and 12 in the mature group. Clinical characteristics were not significant different between the groups. The use of surfactant therapy in the premature group was significantly higher than that in the mature group. There was no significant difference in any respiratory outcomes in the chronic phase between the two groups.

Conclusion: In the chronic phase, SMT had no correlation with respiratory outcomes. Our findings suggest that the respiratory clinical course of VLBWI with premature lung were not inferior to those with mature lung owing to appropriate management by SMT.