title: Sildenafil in management of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: report of two cases.
abstract: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) was described in 1969 by Gersomy and co-workers as persistent foetal circulation. Supra - systemic pulmonary artery pressures result in right to left shunting of blood through the ductus arteriosus and/or foramen ovale. This results from failure of the normal adaptation to extra uterine life of the foetal heart/lung system. The incidence is estimated at about 0.1-0.2% of live born infants, majority being term or post term. There is no race or gender related predisposition. Management was always difficult before the advent of nitric oxide (and now sildenafil). We report two newborn infants born at The Mater Hospital with perinatal asphyxia resulting inpersistent pulmonary hypertension that were successfully managed with sildenafil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676- 00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Simiyu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okello
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Nyakundi
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tawakal
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate