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School-age outcomes of newborns treated for persistent pulmonary hypertension

A A Rosenberg1, N R Lee, K N Vaver

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and The Children's Hospital, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. adam.rosenberg@ucdenver.edu

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|October 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children treated for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) showed comparable school-age outcomes, regardless of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. Long-term neurodevelopmental and behavioral results were similar across treatment groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Background:

  • Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a serious condition requiring intensive care.
  • Treatment advancements include inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
  • Long-term outcomes for children treated for PPHN are crucial for understanding the impact of these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the school-age outcomes of children treated for PPHN.
  • To compare outcomes between infants treated with iNO (with or without ECMO) and those receiving conventional management.
  • To assess medical, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial functioning in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 187 term newborns treated for PPHN was followed up at school age (mean 7.1 years).
  • 109 survivors underwent medical evaluations, growth measurements, and psychometric assessments.
  • Treatments included inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), ECMO, and conventional management.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in medical, neurodevelopmental, or psychosocial outcomes were observed between treatment groups.
  • Overall, the cohort demonstrated average performance in IQ, adaptive function, academic achievement, and executive functioning.
  • Specific findings included 24% with respiratory problems, 60% with abnormal chest X-rays, and 6.4% with sensorineural hearing loss.

Conclusions:

  • School-age outcomes for children treated for PPHN were comparable across different intensive care strategies, including iNO and ECMO.
  • The study suggests that modern intensive care for PPHN leads to favorable long-term neurodevelopmental and functional outcomes.
  • These findings support current treatment approaches for PPHN and provide valuable data on long-term pediatric health.
Abstract

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