Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Neonates (PPHN) is a specific type of PH that affects newborns. PPHN is caused when there is a failure in the normal circulatory transition from the mother’s placenta to the baby’s lungs after birth.
Symptoms
PPHN symptoms are similar to PH symptoms such as blue lips or skin and problems breathing. See What is PH? for more information.
Causes
There is no known cause of PPHN, but there are certain risk factors such as meconium aspiration, underdeveloped lungs, and diaphragmatic hernias.
Treatments
PPHN can be reversed if immediate medical treatments are applied. Treatments for PPHN include oxygen therapy, nitric oxide therapy, medications and in extreme cases extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).