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Objective To compare effectiveness of three surfactant preparations (beractant, calfactant, and poractant alpha) in premature infants for preventing three outcomes: (1) air leak syndromes; (2) death; and (3) bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death (composite outcomes). Study design We conducted a comparative effectiveness study of premature infants admitted to 322 neonatal intensive care units in the U.S. from 2005–2010 who were treated with beractant, calfactant, or poractant alfa. We compared the incidence of air leak syndromes, death, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death, adjusting for gestational age, antenatal steroids, discharge year, and small-for-gestational-age status. Results 51,282 infants received surfactant; 40% received beractant, 30% calfactant, and 30% poractant alfa. Median birth weight was 1435 g (interquartile range 966–2065); median gestational age was 30 weeks (27–33). On adjusted analysis, we observed a similar risk of air leak syndromes (calfactant vs. beractant odds ratio [OR]=1.17 [95% confidence interval: 0.95, 1.43]; calfactant vs. poractant OR=1.23 [0.98, 1.56]; beractant vs. poractant OR=1.06 [0.87, 1.29]), death (calfactant vs. beractant OR=1.14 [0.93, 1.39]; calfactant vs. poractant OR=0.98 [0.78, 1.23]; beractant vs. poractant OR=0.86 [0.72, 1.04]), and BPD or death (calfactant vs. beractant OR=1.08 [0.93, 1.26]; calfactant vs. poractant OR=1.19 [1.00, 1.41]; beractant vs. poractant OR=1.10 [0.96, 1.27]). Conclusions Beractant, calfactant, and poractant alfa demonstrated similar effectiveness in prevention of air leak syndromes, death, and BPD or death in premature infants when adjusted for site. Previously described differences in mortality between surfactants likely do not represent true differences in effectiveness but may relate to site variation in outcomes.

IMPORTANCEA targeted genomic sequencing platform focused on diseases presenting in the first year of life may minimize financial and ethical challenges associated with rapid whole-genomic sequencing.OBJECTIVE To report interim variants and associated interpretations of an ongoing study comparing rapid whole-genomic sequencing with a novel targeted genomic platform composed of 1722 actionable genes targeting disorders presenting in infancy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSThe Genomic Medicine in Ill Neonates and Infants (GEMINI) study is a prospective, multicenter clinical trial with projected enrollment of 400 patients. The study is being conducted at 6 US hospitals. Hospitalized infants younger than 1 year of age suspected of having a genetic disorder are eligible. Results of the first 113 patients enrolled are reported here. Patient recruitment began in July 2019, and the interim analysis of enrolled patients occurred from March to June 2020.INTERVENTIONS Patient (proband) and parents (trios, when available) were tested simultaneously on both genomic platforms. Each laboratory performed its own phenotypically driven interpretation and was blinded to other results. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESVariants were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards of pathogenic (P), likely pathogenic (LP), or variants of unknown significance (VUS). Chromosomal and structural variations were reported by rapid whole-genomic sequencing.RESULTS Gestational age of 113 patients ranged from 23 to 40 weeks and postmenstrual age from 27 to 83 weeks. Sixty-seven patients (59%) were male. Diagnostic and/or VUS were returned for 51 patients (45%), while 62 (55%) had negative results. Results were concordant between platforms in 83 patients (73%). Thirty-seven patients (33%) were found to have a P/LP variant by 2 or both platforms and 14 (12%) had a VUS possibly related to phenotype. The median day of life at diagnosis was 22 days (range, 3-313 days). Significant alterations in clinical care occurred in 29 infants (78%) with a P/LP variant. Incidental findings were reported in 7 trios. Of 51 positive cases, 34 (67%) differed in the reported result because of technical limitations of the targeted platform, interpretation of the variant, filtering discrepancies, or multiple causes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEAs comprehensive genetic testing becomes more routine, these data highlight the critically important variant detection capabilities of existing genomic sequencing technologies and the significant limitations that must be better understood.

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