Exhaled nitric oxide and tracheal endothelin-1 in preterm infants with and without RDS

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003 Nov;36(5):421-6. doi: 10.1002/ppul.10371.

Abstract

We measured exhaled nitric oxide and tracheal aspirate endothelin-1 to determine relationships between these substances and alterations in pulmonary gas exchange during respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in comparison to those obtained from control preterm infants without RDS. Eight infants with RDS had measurements made at 24 hr and again at 48-72 hr. Eight control infants were studied once at 24-48 hr of life. Exhaled gas was analyzed on-line, and minute excretion of NO (V(NO)) was calculated. ET-1 was determined by immunoassay. Median V(NO) at 24 hr in RDS was 0.405 nl/min/kg (range, 0.30 -0.79), which subsequently declined by 48-72 hr to 0.166 nl/min/kg (P < 0.01). The V(NO) in RDS infants was significantly higher than time-matched V(NO) in controls, with a median of 0.099 nl/min/kg (range, 0.03-0.27; P < 0.001). ET-1 was not correlated with initial V(NO) in the RDS or control patients. In conclusion, in RDS, V(NO) decreases as gas exchange improves. ET-1 is detectable in tracheal aspirate samples in both groups of infants.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Body Fluids / chemistry*
  • Breath Tests*
  • Endothelin-1 / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / metabolism*
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / therapy
  • Intubation, Intratracheal
  • Nitric Oxide / analysis*
  • Pulmonary Surfactants / therapeutic use
  • Reference Values
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / therapy
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Trachea*

Substances

  • Endothelin-1
  • Pulmonary Surfactants
  • Nitric Oxide