2025 Select Abstracts from the 18th Annual International Conference on Neonatal and Childhood Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Children with chronic diseases, including pulmonary hypertension (PH), have an increased risk of anxiety and depression (AD), impacting mental health (MH), and quality of life (QoL). We sought to characterize the prevalence of AD in pediatric PH and identify associated factors. We developed a prospective cross-sectional study with 10 Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network (PPHNet) centers.

First approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004, inhaled iloprost has become a mainstay of therapy for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) based on strong clinical trial evidence of its ability to improve symptoms and exercise capacity [1-3]. In 2023, however, the I-neb adaptive aerosol delivery system was discontinued, thereby limiting the availability of inhaled iloprost for new patients and promoting the ultimate discontinuation of the nebulized solution.

When performing cardiac catheterization in pediatric outpatients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH), our approach is to allow spontaneous ventilation, minimize procedural length, and evaluate for same-day discharge whenever safe and feasible. We describe our experience with this approach and identify clinical characteristics that influenced procedural safety. 

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) associated pulmonary hypertension (PH) is rare, but, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in jSSc. This is a case of a 10-year-old girl whose initial presentation of positive U3-RNP antibody jSSc included diffuse skin findings, severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, and right ventricular failure.