Vasodilators in pulmonary hypertension.

Vasodilators in pulmonary hypertension.

Effects of inhaled versus intravenous vasodilators in experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) causes selective pulmonary vasodilation and improves gas exchange in acute lung failure. In experimental pulmonary hypertension, we compared the influence of the aerosolized vasodilatory prostaglandins (PG) PGI2 and PGE1 on vascular tone and gas exchange to that of infused prostanoids (PGI2, PGE1) and inhaled NO. An increase of pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) from 8 to...

Primary pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy; a role for novel vasodilators.

We describe the case of a 28-week pregnant woman presenting with severe primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). She had an elective Caesarean section under general anaesthesia at 32 weeks gestation. Pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) measured from a pulmonary artery catheter before anaesthesia were in excess of 100 mm Hg. Intraoperative nitric oxide was used to reduce PAP. After the delivery of a h...

Vasodilators in the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension.

The use of vasodilators to reduce vascular resistance is over a hundred years old. BALFOUR [1] recommends the use of nitrites as vascular stimulants "which dilate the peripheral vessels (arterioles) and so promote the flow blood". In the case of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), vaso-constriction is one of three factors that combine to increase resistance to blood flow through the lungs. Th...

Pulmonary vasodilators.

Pulmonary vasodilators are an important treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension. They reduce pulmonary artery pressure; improve hemodynamic function; alter ventilation/perfusion matching in the lungs; and improve functional quality of life, exercise tolerance, and survival in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. This paper reviews the currently available pulmonary vasodil...