Blunted hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in experimental neonatal chronic lung disease.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Neonatal chronic lung disease (CLD), caused by prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) with O(2)-rich gas, is the most common cause of long-term hospitalization and recurrent respiratory illness in extremely premature infants. Recurrent episodes of hypoxemia and associated ventilator adjustments often lead to worsening CLD. The mechanism that causes these hypoxemic episodes is unknown. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), which is partially controlled by O(2)-sensitive voltage-gated potassium (K(v)) channels, is an important adaptive response to local hypoxia that helps to match perfusion and ventilation in the lung.

Objectives

To test the hypothesis that chronic lung injury (CLI) impairs HPV.

Methods

We studied preterm lambs that had MV with O(2)-rich ga

SUBMITTER: Rey-Parra GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2542441 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature