title: Treatment of severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn with magnesium sulphate.
abstract: Eight of nine newborn infants with severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), and a predicted mortality of 100%, and one infant with a predicted mortality greater than 94% based on alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference [A-a)DO2) were treated with magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) as a life saving therapy after they failed to improve with conventional treatment. Magnesium at high serum concentrations decreases pulmonary pressures and is a muscle relaxant and sedative. Diluted MgSO4.7H2O solution (200 mg/kg) was given intravenously over 20-30 minutes. No changes in the treatment were made after MgSO4. Mean serum magnesium concentration was maintained between 2.88 and 5.67 mmol/l by continuous intravenous infusion (six infants). Baseline arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and haemoglobin oxygen saturation had mean (SD) values of 4.66 (1.8) kPa and 60.4 (29.7)% respectively, which started to increase one hour after MgSO4 infusion, and increased significantly at six hours to 12.04 (7.07) kPa and 91.8 (10.88)% respectively. Arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) decreased and pH increased significantly after one hour compared with the baseline value. PaO2 increases are probably secondary to a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and pressure, decrease in a right to left shunt, better ventilation:perfusion ratio, and PaCO2 decrease and pH rise. Seven infants survived (77.8%). These results demonstrate the beneficial effect of magnesium in the management of PPHN when other accepted treatment fails, is contraindicated, or not available.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Abu-Osba
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Galal
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manasra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rejjal
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010547:Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D008274:Magnesium; D010100:Oxygen