Inhaled nitric oxide in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension

Summary

To investigate the oxygenation and haemodynamic dose response to inhaled nitric oxide in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), we gave seven neonates nitric oxide and measured directly pulmonary arterial pressure. Inhaled nitric oxide produced peak improvement in oxygenation at 5 parts per million (ppm) whereas peak improvement in the pulmonary-to-systemic arterial pressure ratio did not occur until a nitric oxide dose of 20 ppm, which suggests that an initial dose of 20 ppm is optimum for the treatment of PPHN.