Nitric oxide and prostacyclin as test agents of vasoreactivity in severe precapillary pulmonary hypertension: predictive ability and consequences on haemodynamics and gas exchange

Abstract

NO inhalation can accurately predict a vasodilator response to nifedipine in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension without adverse effects on systemic haemodynamics and gas exchange. This absence of side effects may make it a more appropriate agent for testing the vasodilator response.