Progress of inhaled nitric oxide on treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of new-born

Persistent pulmonary hypertension is a serious disease among new-borns.Despite the variety of causes, similar physiopathologic changes characterize this syndrome: a persistently raised pulmonary vascular resistance after birth, which leads to severe hypoxemia due to extrapulmonary shunting.The fundamental treatment is to reduce pulmonary vascular pressure and improve hemodynamics.Modern treatments such as inhaled nitric oxide, high-frequency oscillation ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and/or other pulmonary vasodilators could reduce mortality in neonatal persisitent pulmonary hypertension(PPHN). Inhaled nitric oxide is the main method for the treatment of PPHN, which can effectively improve oxygenation and reduce the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO). The effect of inhaled nitric oxide is different with the gestational age changed.This article aims to summarize the clinical research progress of inhaled nitric oxide in the treatment of PPHN. Key words: Persistent pulmonary hypertensionof the newborn; Inhaled nitric oxide; Pulmonary vasodilator substance