What caused this condition? Do adults have something similar?

Lung immaturity of the fetal lung and lack of adequate surfactant. The amount of oxygen used to try and keep these children alive also has a deleterious effect on the pulmonary tissue. The leakage of plasma proteins into the alveolar spaces is the source of the hyaline deposits.

Yes, adults can develop a condition very much like this. It typically follows major traumatic injury or some form of shock. In this scenario, the endothelial cells of the pulmonary capillaries are damaged and leak the plasma proteins into the alveolar spaces. The microscopic appearance is really quite similar, and outcome is not much better. The term "adult respiratory distress syndrome" is often applied to the adult variant. It is always happens as a consequence of something else, and proves a most unwelcome complication in an already very sick patient.
 

Mark Braun, MD braunm@indiana.edu
Copyright 1998, the Trustees of Indiana University