Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Rational therapy based on pathophysiology.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is a common disorder among near-term gestation newborns. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is characterized by hypoxemia that is frequently refractory to conventional management. This article describes the pathophysiologic basis of the disorder and the current therapy that is based on this knowledge.