title: Acute effect of oral prostacyclin and inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary hypertension in children.
abstract: The hemodynamic effects of acute oral administration of a newly-developed prostacyclin analogue (beraprost sodium; 1-2 micrograms/kg), inhaled nitric oxide (NO; 20 ppm) and tolazoline hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) were measured in 17 children (mean age 1 year and 9 months) with pulmonary hypertension complicating congenital heart disease or primary pulmonary hypertension. Beraprost, NO and tolazoline achieved approximately equivalent reductions in pulmonary vascular resistance (20%, 26% and 18%, p < 0.05), but the greatest percentage decrease of pulmonary to systemic resistance ratio was obtained after administration of NO (33%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, combined administration of beraprost and NO produced the maximum effect of pulmonary vasodilation without adverse effects (49%). Beraprost appears to be an effective and available substitute for NO and tolazoline in screening for pulmonary vasodilator responsiveness. The combined use of beraprost and NO may provide an alternative treatment for pulmonary hypertension in children without serious complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ichida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uese
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamamichi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsubata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukahara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyawaki
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D002675:Child, Preschool; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014043:Tolazoline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C048081:beraprost; D014043:Tolazoline; D011464:Epoprostenol