Nitric oxide: modulation of the pulmonary circulation.
Nitric oxide (NO) is synthetized throughout the body by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS), cyclic GMP transduction pathway causes pulmonary vasodilatation anti-platelets aggregation and inhibition of leukocyte adhesion. Inducible NOS is expressed in leukocytes in response to a variety of inflammatory stimuli and can be inhibited by corticosteroids. Inhaled NO is a selective pulmonary vasodilator. In USA inhaled NO was approved by FDA for hypoxemic respiratory failure in infants and children. In adults it may be useful in various clinical therapy: pulmonary hypertension, lung transplantation, ARDS but new clinical investigations are necessary.
Bigatello
L M
LM
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachussets General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide