title: Improvement in oxygenation by phenylephrine and nitric oxide in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inhaled nitric oxide (NO), a selective vasodilator, improves oxygenation in many patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Vasoconstrictors may also improve oxygenation, possibly by enhancing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. This study compared the effects of phenylephrine, NO, and their combination in patients with ARDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with ARDS (PaO2/FIO2 <le> 180; Murray score <me> 2) were studied. Each patient received three treatments in random order: intravenous phenylephrine, 50-200 micrograms/min, titrated to a 20% increase in mean arterial blood pressure; inhaled NO, 40 ppm; and the combination (phenylephrine+NO). Hemodynamics and blood gas measurements were made during each treatment and at pre- and posttreatment baselines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three treatments improved PaO2 overall. Six patients were "phenylephrine-responders" (delta PaO2 > 10 mmHg), and six were "phenylephrine-nonresponders." In phenylephrine-responders, the effect of phenylephrine was comparable with that of NO (PaO2 from 105 +/- 14 to 132 +/- 14 mmHg with phenylephrine, and from 110 +/- 14 to 143 +/- 19 mmHg with NO), and the effect of phenylephrine+NO was greater than that of either treatment alone (PaO2 from 123 +/- 13 to 178 +/- 23 mmHg). In phenylephrine-nonresponders, phenylephrine did not affect PaO2, and the effect of phenylephrine+NO was not statistically different from that of NO alone (PaO2 from 82 +/- 12 to 138 +/- 28 mmHg with NO; from 84 +/- 12 to 127 +/- 23 mmHg with phenylephrine+NO). Data are mean +/- SEM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phenylephrine alone can improve PaO2 in patients with ARDS. In phenylephrine-responsive patients, phenylephrine augments the improvement in PaO2 seen with inhaled NO. These results may reflect selective enhancement of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by phenylephrine, which complements selective vasodilation by NO.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Anesthesia, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Reily
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine; D009569:Nitric Oxide