Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Perreault Thérèse

doi:10.1016/j.prrv.2006.04.211

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2006:7 Suppl 1:S175-6. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2006.04.211. Epub 2006 Jun 5.

Author

Perreault Thérèse¹

Affiliation

¹ Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, 2300 Tupper Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3H 1P3. therese.perreault@muhc.mcgill.ca

PMID: 16798554
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2006.04.211

Abstract

In utero, fetal pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is high, but rapidly falls after birth. Expansion of the lungs, increase in oxygenation, release of vasoactive mediators, growth factors and remodeling of the vascular wall, all contribute to the reduction in PVR. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is defined as a failure of the pulmonary vasculature to relax at birth, resulting in hypoxemia. PPHN is in fact a variety of disorders that have a common presentation. Some of the pathophysiological mechanisms and the therapeutic approaches are discussed below.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Administration, Inhalation
Endothelin-1 / metabolism*
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors / administration & dosage
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors / therapeutic use
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Nitric Oxide / administration & dosage
Nitric Oxide / metabolism
Nitric Oxide / therapeutic use*
Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome* / drug therapy
Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome* / metabolism
Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome* / physiopathology
Prognosis
Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / physiology*
Vasoconstriction / physiology

Substances

Endothelin-1
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors
Nitric Oxide