| Epoprostenol in primary pulmonary hypertension. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 10200860 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
OBJECTIVE: To review briefly the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and current treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and review the available clinical data on epoprostenol in PPH. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search (January 1966-August 1998) was used to identify case reports and clinical studies pertaining to epoprostenol in PPH. Bibliographic lists were also used. STUDY SELECTION: All English-language clinical studies of epoprostenol in PPH were included. Incomplete study descriptions (abstracts) were not included. DATA EXTRACTION: Study design, population, methods, clinical outcomes, and adverse effects were evaluated. DATA SYNTHESIS: PPH is a relatively rare disease that results in symptoms of congestive heart failure and has a five-year survival rate of 34%. Therapy has consisted of vasodilators, anticoagulation, oxygen, and ultimately lung transplantation. Epoprostenol, which has recently become available as an integral pharmacotherapeutic option, has been shown to improve hemodynamic parameters such as cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance. It has been shown to improve exercise parameters, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, and survival. Epoprostenol is indicated for patients with severe disease (NYHA class III or IV) who do not respond to acute vasodilator challenge or chronic calcium-channel blocker therapy. Its chronic administration is challenging as it requires continuous infusion via central venous catheter and a special infusion pump. Administration is further complicated by the 48-hour expiration of reconstituted epoprostenol and the need to refrigerate the reconstituted drug. CONCLUSIONS: Epoprostenol improves hemodynamics and clinical outcome in patients with severe PPH. Epoprostenol therapy requires intensive patient education and medical monitoring, but it can improve well-being and delay the need for lung transplantation. |
| | |
Authors:
|
S J Herner; L S Mauro |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: The Annals of pharmacotherapy Volume: 33 ISSN: 1060-0280 ISO Abbreviation: Ann Pharmacother Publication Date: 1999 Mar |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 1999-06-02 Completed Date: 1999-06-02 Revised Date: 2005-11-16 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9203131 Medline TA: Ann Pharmacother Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 340-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Antihypertensive Agents
/
therapeutic use* Epoprostenol / therapeutic use* Humans Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*, epidemiology, physiopathology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
|
0/Antihypertensive Agents; 35121-78-9/Epoprostenol |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Nelfinavir mesylate: a protease inhibitor.
Next Document: Glutamine supplementation in catabolic patients.