Pathophysiology and treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn infants / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Persistent pulmonary hvpertension of newborn(PPHN) is a life-threatening condition which occurs at a rate of 2/1 000-6/1 000.The etiology of PPHN is still unknown and its treatment remains a major challenge for neonatologist.Impaired pulmonary artery relaxation,reduced blood vessel density and pulmonary vascular remodeling are the main pathological changes in PPHN.The general managements include mechanical ventilation,sedation,surfactant and hemodynamic support.Inhaled nitric oxide is the main vasorelaxant used in the treatment of PPHN.Several other vasorelaxants have been studied such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors,prostacyclin,endothelin-1 inhibitors.Even with the introduction of several new therapeutic modalities there has been no significant change in survival rate.