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70 patients admitted to the University of Michigan Holden NICU from 21/1/93 through 11/15/96 received inhaled nitric oxide (NO) therapy. 62/70 patients were diagnosed with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) as documented by echocardiogram and/or pre- and postductal PaO2 gradients. 8/70 patients were treated for persistent, intractable hypoxemia thought secondary to intrapulmonary shunt. A positive response was defined as an increase in postductal PaO2 to avoid ECMO. Permanent responders (28/70; 40%) were those who sustained a significant enough increase in postductal PaO2 to avoid ECMO. Transient responders (15/70; 21%) were those who had an initial positive response to inhaled NO, but could not sustain an adequate postductal PaO2, and required ECMO. Non-responders (27/70; 39%) were those who did not respond with an adequate increase in postductal PaO2 to an initial NO test of 40-80 ppm. Non-responders had a mean (+/- SD) baseline PaO2 of 45.6 (+/- 15.3) Torr. Mean baseline PaO2 in transient responders (38.6 +/- 14 Torr) was not significantly different from non-responders (P