Aerosolised prostacyclin for pulmonary hypertension in neonates

Aerosolised prostacyclin (PGI2) was administered to two neonates with pulmonary hypertension to dilate the pulmonary vessels selectively. The alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient fell from 73.2 (patient 1) and 71.8 kPa (patient 2) to 33.8 and 26.7 kPa respectively. Systemic blood pressure remained stable while pulmonary blood pressure declined in patient 1. When inhaled, PGI2 seems to improve oxygenation, mainly due to reduction of intrapulmonary shunting.