Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn By Arcangela Lattari Balest, MD, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine Reviewed / Revised Jul 2021 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Etiology Pathophysiology Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Prognosis Treatment Key Points Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is the persistence of or reversion to pulmonary arteriolar constriction, causing a severe reduction in pulmonary blood flow and right-to-left shunting at the atrial and / or ductal level.