Pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension in newborns: therapeutic indications.

Failure of the normal cardiopulmonary transition can lead to persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Some degree of pulmonary hypertension complicates the course of more than 10% of all neonates with respiratory failure. This review article discusses the vascular abnormalities associated with neonatal pulmonary hypertension. Common therapies including inhaled nitric oxide, high frequency ventilation, surfactant, and extracorporeal life support are included. Promising new treatment approaches like phosphodiesterase inhibition and cell-targeted therapies are presented.