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Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension in infancy

Robin H Steinhorn1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis Children's Hospital, Sacramento, CA, United States.

Early Human Development
|October 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infant pulmonary hypertension arises from impaired lung development, affecting growth and function. Effective treatments target pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) by understanding altered signaling pathways in remodeled lung vasculature.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Normal pulmonary vascular development in infancy is crucial for lung function and growth.
  • Adverse influences on the developing lung can lead to pulmonary hypertension in infants.
  • Pulmonary hypertension in neonates is associated with conditions like PPHN, CDH, and BPD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the factors affecting normal pulmonary vascular development in infants.
  • To discuss the classification of pulmonary hypertension in neonates.
  • To highlight current pharmacotherapeutic strategies for infant pulmonary hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pulmonary vascular development and infant pulmonary hypertension.
  • Analysis of current classifications for pediatric pulmonary hypertension.
  • Examination of pharmacotherapeutic targets for pulmonary hypertension in infants.

Main Results:

  • Pulmonary hypertension in infants results from disrupted lung adaptation and development.
  • New classifications are emerging to categorize diverse pulmonary hypertension phenotypes in neonates.
  • Targeting pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is key for treating PPHN.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding altered signaling pathways in remodeled vasculature is essential for effective treatment.
  • Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for infant PPHN focus on selective PVR reduction.
  • Continued research into the mechanisms of infant pulmonary hypertension is vital.

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