Iloprost ; Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn ; Nitric oxide
Abstract
Inhaled iloprost, a stable carbacyline derivative of prostacyclin, has been used recently for the treatment of adults with pulmonary hypertension but only few reports are available about its use in neonatal critical care. We report therapeutic trial of inhaled iloprost in newborn infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) who did not respond to inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). Inhaled iloprost (Ventavis(R), Bayer Shering Pharma, Germany) was effective in neonates with severe PPHN who showed inadequate response to iNO. We suggest that inhaled iloprost could be considered as an additional therapeutic option in PPHN refractory to iNO