Successful treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn with bosentan

Abstract

The sophisticated and expensive treatment modalities of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), such as nitric oxide, are limited in developing countries. Alternative (less expensive) treatments are being sought and bosentan, an oral dual endothelin-1 receptor antagonist, may be an option for the treatment of PPHN. We report our experience of using bosentan in a neonate with severe PPHN.

Conclusion: Bosentan may be a useful adjuvant therapy in neonates with PPHN, providing significant improvement in oxygenation, and thus may be particularly useful in the treatment of PPHN in countries with limited resources.