Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Vasodilators

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension in the perinatal period can present acutely (persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn) or chronically. Clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of acute pulmonary hypertension is well accepted but there are no broadly validated criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension later in the clinical course, although there are significant populations of infants with lung disease at risk for this diagnosis. Contributing cardiovascular comorbidities are common in infants with pulmonary hypertension and lung disease. It is not clear who should be treated without confirmation of pulmonary vascular disease by cardiac catheterization, with concurrent evaluation of any contributing cardiovascular comorbidities.

Keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; Echocardiography; Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn; Pulmonary vascular disease; Pulmonary vascular resistance.