Therapeutic targets in neonatal pulmonary hypertension: linking pathophysiology to clinical medicine

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Isolation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells from Neonatal Mice
08:02

Isolation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells from Neonatal Mice

Published on: October 19, 2013

I W J M van der Horst1, I Reiss, D Tibboel

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands. i.w.j.m.vanderhorst@erasmusmc.nl

Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
|May 19, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Treating neonatal pulmonary hypertension is challenging, but new research offers novel therapeutic targets beyond vasodilation. Future treatments aim to reduce vascular remodeling and improve lung development, lowering infant mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal intensive care
  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Neonatal pulmonary hypertension presents significant intensive care challenges with high morbidity and mortality.
  • Advances in understanding pathophysiology reveal numerous potential therapeutic targets.
  • Current treatment strategies require careful consideration of underlying pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current therapeutic options for neonatal pulmonary hypertension.
  • To explore promising novel drug targets for treating this condition.
  • To highlight the need for multicenter, randomized, controlled trials for new therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing and emerging treatments for neonatal pulmonary hypertension.
  • Analysis of pathophysiological insights guiding therapeutic development.
  • Synthesis of information on drugs targeting vasodilation, vascular remodeling, and lung development.

Main Results:

  • Several novel therapeutic targets beyond simple vasodilation are identified.
  • New therapies are expected to address vascular remodeling and promote postnatal lung development.
  • The review categorizes currently available drugs and future therapeutic avenues.

Conclusions:

  • Effective treatment of neonatal pulmonary hypertension requires a multifaceted approach.
  • Future therapies will likely combine vasodilation with strategies to combat vascular remodeling and enhance lung growth.
  • Clinical translation of novel targets necessitates rigorous multicenter, randomized, controlled trials.

More Related Videos

Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets08:08

Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets

Published on: May 11, 2015

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography09:31

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Published on: January 27, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis01:30

Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe health condition in which the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increases to 25 mmHg or more, even when the body is at rest. This high pressure in the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs can cause various symptoms, including shortness of breath, can lead to right heart failure, and significantly affect the overall quality of life.
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists01:18

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Of...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure01:16

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure

Oxygen therapy has emerged as a significant tool in enhancing the quality of life for patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While this therapy has principally been studied on patients with significant hypoxemia, this therapeutic approach helps prevent potential organ damage and can be administered in the comfort of one's home.
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue, improving...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...