Significance of Nitric Oxide Inhalation (NO) in Preterm Infants < 34 weeks of Gestation

In 2001, NO was approved as a therapeutic agent in Europe for the treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension in late preterm infants > 34 weeks of gestational age and term newborns. Recent observational studies suggest, that preterm infants < 34 weeks of gestation with acute hypoxic lung failure could benefit from inhaled NO (iNO) by improved oxygenation. To date, 21 randomised-controlled trials have enrolled 3 336 preterm infants < 34 weeks of gestation for iNO treatment. Overall, iNO treatment does not reduce the rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death compared to controls. In addition, iNO treatment of preterm infants with hypoxic respiratory failure or increased risk of BPD does not affect the combined incidence of death and BPD. However, early prophylactic use of iNO in preterm infants with respiratory distress seems to improve survival without BPD or severe cerebral damage. Current data of long term neurological outcome of iNO-treated preterm infants do not seem to justify iNO administration. Outside of well designed clinical trials iNO-treatment of preterm infants can currently not be recommended.