Inhaled iloprost in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary hypertension.

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.