The toxicology of inhaled nitric oxide

• Published in: Toxicological sciences 2001, Vol.59 (1), p.5-16
• Main Authors: WEINBERGER, Barry, LASKIN, Debra L, HECK, Diane E, LASKIN, Jeffrey D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclic GMP - metabolism; DNA Damage - drug effects; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary - drug therapy; Infant, Newborn; Inhalation Exposure; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Nitric Oxide - adverse effects; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric Oxide - therapeutic use; Pulmonary Circulation - drug effects; Pulmonary Circulation - physiology; Vasodilator Agents - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1096-6080; 1096-0929; 1096-0929
• DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/59.1.5

Inhaled nitric oxide is a targeted pulmonary vasodilator that improves clinical outcomes for newborn patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, and may be effective in treating some premature patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome or lung disease of prematurity. Nitric oxide is now recognized as playing an important role in the regulation of diverse physiological processes. However, the pharmacological properties of inhaled nitric oxide are not easy to separate from its toxicological effects. For example, the intended effect of inhaled nitric oxide, vasodilation in the lung, is mediated, in part, by increased cellular cyclic GMP (cGMP). However, increased cGMP can also interfere with normal cellular proliferation. Nitric oxide has also been shown to cause DNA strand breaks and/or base alterations that are potentially mutagenic. Inhaled nitric oxide can rapidly react with oxygen in the lung to form nitrogen dioxide, which is a potent pulmonary irritant. Nitric oxide also reacts with superoxide anion to form peroxynitrite, a cytotoxic oxidant that can interfere with surfactant functioning. The overall effect of inhaled nitric oxide in potentiating or attenuating inflammation and oxidative damage in diseased lung is dependent on the dose administered. Furthermore, despite rapid inactivation by circulating hemoglobin, inhaled nitric oxide exerts effects outside the lung, including blocking platelet aggregation, causing methemoglobinemia, and possibly inducing extrapulmonary vasodilation. The toxicology of inhaled nitric oxide is not completely understood and must be considered in the design of protocols for its safe and effective clinical use.