Can inhaled prostacyclin stimulate surfactant in ELBW infants?

J Perinatol. 2007 Nov;27(11):724-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211811.

Abstract

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) causes significant hypoxia in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. We report an ELBW infant with RDS and pulmonary hypertension whose hypoxia did not respond to inhaled nitric oxide but improved with inhaled prostacyclin. We propose that inhaled prostacyclin alleviated the hypoxia by stimulating surfactant secretion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / complications
  • Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / physiopathology
  • Echocardiography, Doppler
  • Epoprostenol / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent / complications
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent / physiopathology
  • High-Frequency Ventilation
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / congenital
  • Hypoxia / drug therapy
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation
  • Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Surfactants / metabolism*
  • Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / physiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / drug therapy*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / physiopathology
  • Stimulation, Chemical

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Pulmonary Surfactants
  • Epoprostenol