Section Review Pulmonary-Allergy, Dermatological, Gastrointestinal & Arthritis: Recent developments in inhaled nitric oxide therapy

Abstract

Advances in vascular biology have secured the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway a pivotal, yet diverse, role in human physiology, including modulation of vascular tone, neural transmission and inflammation. Consequent upon these discoveries, inhaled nitric oxide therapy has emerged as an important agent in the assessment and treatment of pulmonary vascular and airspace disease. Inhaled nitric oxide is a selective pulmonary vasodilator with the unique attribute of enhancing the ventilation-to-perfusion ratio. It is likely to assume an increasingly important part in pharmacological strategies to treat the diseased pulmonary circulation as well as providing insight into underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.