Testing pulmonary vasoreactivity.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is classified as idiopathic or secondary (associated with collagenoses, heart disease, portal hypertension, pulmonary thromboembolism, and pulmonary vascular diseases). Pulmonary vasoreactivity should be tested in order to define the best treatment option. Of the many drugs that have been used to test pulmonary vasoreactivity, inhaled nitric oxide is the best choice, due its specific pulmonary effect and very short half-life (5-10 s). The results of this test identify candidates for heart surgery among patients with congenital heart disease and candidates for the use of calcium antagonists among patients with other forms of pulmonary hypertension. Performing and interpreting the results of such tests are a great responsibility, since mistakes can lead to incorrect treatment decisions, resulting in the death of patients.
Oliveira
Edmundo Clarindo
EC
Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. edclarindo@hotmail.com
Amaral
Carlos Faria Santos
CF
Moura
Marco Antonio
MA
Campos
Frederico Thadeu Assis Figueiredo
FT
Pauperio
Helder Machado
HM
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*
D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide