Inhaled iloprost as part of combination therapy for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Abstract

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is rare, but life-threatening. If not treated, PPHN may cause respiratory failure and death in neonates. l,2,3 PPHN often occurs in term or post-term infants with a history of difficult labor, infection or asphyxia during birth. These infants do not have adequate oxygen during labor.3 Based on etiology, PPHN can be categorized into primary PPHN, which occurs by itself without apparent cause; or secondary PPHN, which is caused by meconium aspiration, hyaline membrane disease, neonatal sepsis with pneumonia, congenital heart abnormality, or maternal drug use (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, methamphetamine, or selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors) during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Keywords

• Inhaled iloprost
• persistent pulmonary hypertension
• newborn