Columbia Technology Ventures

Method of inducing vasorelaxation to treat pulmonary hypertension

Name of the inventor: Charles Lawson A method of selectively decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance is described. Pulmonary vascular resistance is selectively decreased by administering endotracheally or endobronchially, an effective amount of an agent which may be cyclic nucleotides, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, nitric oxide precursors, nitric oxide donors or nitric oxide analogs. A significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance over a ninety minute time period is indicated. The method is useful in treating conditions such as primary pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, adult respiratory distress syndrome, congenital heart disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, cor pulmonale, pulmonary embolism, bronchiectasis, emphysema, Pickwickian syndrome, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure or valvular heart disease.