title: [Pulmonary hypertension: the role of nitric oxide in adults].
abstract: The human body releases endogenous nitric oxide (NO) from three main sources: neurons, inflammatory processes (induced NO) and endothelium. The chemical industry produces NO by reacting sulfur dioxide and nitric acid, or sodium nitrite and sulfuric acid, or by oxidation of ammonia. Inhaled NO acts on smooth muscle cells of the pulmonary endothelium, causing relaxation by stimulation of guanylate-cyclase. The short half life of NO and its immediate breakdown into hemodynamically inactive but toxic metabolites make this drug a selective pulmonary vasodilator that can decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, improving right ventricular ejection fraction while decreasing intrapulmonary shunt and improving oxygenation.NO has demonstrated its usefulness in treating right ventricular failure secondary to pulmonary hypertension after heart surgery, especially in the transplanted patient. Doses have usually ranged from 5 to 20 parts per million. However, great individual variability in response to NO has been reported. Between 30 and 40% of patients do not respond to treatment. NO is also used to assess the reversibility of chronic pulmonary hypertension in patients who are candidates for heart transplants. Other uses have been suggested, such as reversion of pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by protamine. Applications are limited by the toxicity of metabolites and by route of administration.
authors.affiliation: Hopital Cardiovasculaire & Pneumologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, Francia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neidecker
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase