The current use of nitric oxide and aerosolised Prostacyclin as inhaled vasodilators in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension
Martin Max, Ralf Kuhlen, Rolf Rossaint

An increase in pulmonary arterial pressure can occur primarily with unknown etiology or secondary in the course of various pulmonary or cardiac disorders. Selective pulmonary vasodilation with inhaled nitric oxide or nebulized prostacyclin can result in a decrease of the elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, thereby relieving the right heart of the increased workload and improving the eventual concomitant pulmonary edema. Additionally, pulmonary vasodilators can be useful to identify patients without fixated vasoconstriction and a persistent reagibility of the pulmonary vasculature prior to corrective heart surgery or administration of longer-acting vasodilating drugs. However, although selective pulmonary vasodilation with nitric oxide and prostacyclin has been shown to be superior to the intravenous short-term treatment of pulmonary hypertension, the rapid inactivation of both drugs require a permanent application, thereby limiting their usefulness for long-term treatment.

Keywords: Pulmonary hypertension, nitric oxide, prostacyclin, inhaled vasodilators, acute respiratory distress syndrome

Applied Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology 8: 9-19, 1999

Autorenanschrift:

Martin Max, M.D.
Klinik für Anaesthesie
Medizinische Einrichtungen der RWTH Aachen
Pauwelsstr. 30
52074 Aachen
Germany
Phone: ++49 (0)241-80 88179
Fax: ++49 (0)241-88 88406
E-mail: Martin.Max2@post.rwth-aachen.de