Abstract
Objective Many vasodilator drugs, including inhaled iloprost, are used to treat insufficient
pulmonary vasodilatation, which is the main issue in pulmonary hypertension in newborns.
Study Design The safety and efficacy of inhaled iloprost for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension
were evaluated retrospectively in 15 preterm infants diagnosed with respiratory distress
syndrome and pulmonary hypertension.
Results The infants were unresponsive to surfactant and conventional mechanical ventilation
and thus were treated with inhaled iloprost. Oxygenation parameters and hypoxemia
improved rapidly after treatment. There was no decline in systemic blood pressure,
no need for increased doses of vasopressor, and no side effects during treatment.
One patient died of sepsis during treatment.
Conclusion In the treatment of severely sick premature babies with pulmonary hypertension, inhaled
iloprost has high tolerability and a low incidence of systemic side effects. Based
on the benefits of inhaled iloprost in preterm infants with pulmonary hypertension
in this case series, further studies are required to evaluate its efficacy and safety
in the preterm population.
Keywords
pulmonary hypertension - nitric oxide - aerosolized iloprost - preterm infant