Pulmonary Hypertension in Neonates: Inhaled Nitric Oxide vs Epoprostenol (Flolan)

J Lung Pulm Respir Res 2016, 3(3): 00082 selectively targets pulmonary vessels, causing a potent and sustained vasodilatation, and therefore increasing pulmonary blood flow [2]. After diffusion across the alveolar capillary membrane, the iNO is absorbed by subjacent smooth muscles of the pulmonary vasculature to activate soluble guanylate cyclase, which is responsible for conversion of GTP to cGMP which activates relaxation of smooth muscles via several mechanisms [2]. Because iNO is scavenged and deactivated by the hemoglobin upon diffusion into the blood, its vasodilatory effects are limited largely to the lungs [2].