SFTPB and newborn respiratory distress syndrome: Different polymorphisms within the SP-B gene have been described (Pilot-Matias et al, 1989; Nogee et al, 1994; Floros et al, 1995; Lin et al, 1998, 1999a) and SP-B gene variations have been associated with several diseases, such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (Floros et al, 1995), COPD (Seifart et al, 2002) and congenital alveolar proteinosis (Nogee et al, 1994; Lin et al, 1998).