Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Jan;58(1):4-14. 10.4097/kjae.2010.58.1.4.

Nitric oxide and pulmonary hypertension

• Sim JY

• KMID: 2031771
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.58.1.4

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious complication of a number of lung and heart diseases that is characterized by peripheral vascular structural remodeling and loss of vascular tone. Nitric oxide can modulate vascular injury and interrupt elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance selectively; however, it can also produce cytotoxic oxygen radicals and exert cytotoxic and antiplatelet effects. The balance between the protective and adverse effects of nitric oxide is determined by the relative amount of nitric oxide and reactive radicals. Nitric oxide has been shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of congenital heart disease, mitrial valvular disease combined with pulmonary hypertension and in orthotropic cardiac transplantation patients. Additionally, new therapeutic modalities for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, natriuretic peptides and aqueous nitric oxide are also effective for treatment of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance.

Keyword

Nitric oxide; Pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary vascular resistance

MeSH Terms

Heart Diseases
Heart Transplantation
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Lung
Natriuretic Peptides
Nitric Oxide
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Reactive Oxygen Species
Vascular Resistance
Vascular System Injuries
Natriuretic Peptides
Nitric Oxide
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Reactive Oxygen Species