Evidence Hub

Sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension in neonates

Prakesh S. Shah, Arne Ohlsson

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2011

77 participants · 59 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Persistent pulmonary hypertension in neonates (PPHN) is associated with high mortality. Currently, the therapeutic mainstay for PPHN is assisted ventilation and administration of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). However, nitric oxide is costly and may not be appropriate in resource-poor settings. Approximately 30% of patients fail to respond to iNO. High concentrations of phosphodiesterases in the pulmonary vasculature has led to the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as sildenafil or milrinone. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of sildenafil in the treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension in neonates. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL databases were searched from their inception until December 2010; Clinicaltrials.gov web site, the reference lists of identified trials, and abstracts of meetings were searched without any language restriction. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of sildenafil compared with placebo or other pulmonary vasodilators, irrespective of dose, route and duration of administration in neonates with PPHN, were included if the trial reported any of the pre-specified outcomes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The methodological quality of the trials was assessed regarding how bias was minimized at study entry, during study intervention and at outcomes measurement. Data on relevant outcomes were extracted and the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 77 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free