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Novel use of riociguat in infants with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension unable to wean from inhaled nitric oxide

Domingo LT, Ivy DD, Abman SH, Grenolds AM, MacLean JT, Breaux JA, Minford KJ, Frank BS

Frontiers in pediatrics, 2022

15 citations

Abstract

Introduction: Riociguat, an oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, has been approved for use in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. However, there is limited data on its therapeutic use in children.

Case presentation: We report the case of two infants with severe suprasystemic pulmonary hypertension who were successfully treated with riociguat after failure to wean off inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) despite combination PAH therapy. Case 1 is a 6-month-old term male with TBX4 deletion who presented with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure and severe PAH immediately after birth. Initial cardiac catheterization showed PVRi 15.5 WU*m2. Marked hypoxemia and PAH persisted despite aggressive therapy with sildenafil, bosentan, intravenous treprostinil, and milrinone. The infant required high doses of inhaled nitric oxide (60 ppm) and manifested significant post-ductal hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability with any attempt at weaning. After discontinuation of sildenafil, initiation, and very slow uptitration of riociguat, the patient was able to maintain hemodynamic stability and wean from nitric oxide over 6 weeks with persistently severe but not worsened pulmonary hypertension. Case 2 is a 4-month-old term male with compound heterozygous SLC25A26 mutation and severe pulmonary hypertension. Initial cardiac catheterization showed PVRi 28.2 WU*m2. After uptitration of sildenafil, bosentan, and IV treprostinil, serial…

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