Comorbidities and Late Outcomes in Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a critical condition with varied long-term outcomes.
• Outcomes are influenced by disease severity, ventilation duration, and congenital anomalies.
• PPHN is associated with increased mortality in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the long-term outcomes of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns.
• To explore the impact of PPHN on survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
• To examine the association between PPHN in preterm infants and neurodevelopmental impairment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
• Analysis of outcomes in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and PPHN.
• Examination of data on pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated PH.

Main Results:

• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors with PPHN may experience respiratory morbidities and developmental delays.
• PPHN presence increases mortality in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, with unclear neurodevelopmental effects.
• Pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants, both early and late (BPD-PH), is linked to higher mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment.

Conclusions:

• Long-term outcomes of PPHN are multifactorial, influenced by initial severity and associated conditions.
• Pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants, particularly BPD-PH, presents significant mortality risks and neurodevelopmental challenges.
• Further research is needed to clarify the neurodevelopmental impact of PPHN in various neonatal populations.