The Effect of Treprostinil on Metabolic Profile in a Patient with Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension from Chronic Lung Disease

Abstract

It is important to understand the effects of prescribed drugs on metabolism in order to tailor the nutritional prescription for critically ill children in the PICU. We describe a case of an infant with chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension secondary to omphalocele. This report narrates the effects of treprostinil [1,2], a pulmonary vasodilator prostaglandin, during a continuous subcutaneous infusion used to control pulmonary hypertension with a metabolic profile obtained via an indirect calorimeter (IC) (CCM Express, MC Diagnostics, St. Paul, MN). Treprostinil is a prostanoid that targets the prostacyclin pathway resulting in vasodilation, inhibition of smooth muscle proliferation and platelet aggregation [3]. The systemic effect of treprostinil may modify energy metabolism in a dynamic manner providing a challenge for caretakers to provide appropriate nutritional support.