title: Is sildenafil an effective therapy in the management of persistent pulmonary hypertension?
abstract: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a life-threatening neonatal pathology resulting from poor hemodynamic and respiratory transition to extra uterine life. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a current, commonly used treatment of PPHN. However, iNO is not available therapy in many developing countries and around 50% of infants with PPHN do not respond to iNO therapy. Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor type 5 (PDE5) that has been shown to selectively reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in both animal models and adult humans. Recent studies have found that in PPHN, administration of Sildenafil was associated with a significant increase in the oxygenation and a reduction in mortality with no clinically important side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, University Hospital Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Hakam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaseen
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darwich
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamdy
keywords: Neonate; persistent pulmonary hypertension; sildenafil
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