(Circulation. 1999;99:1858-1865.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
Long-Term Prostacyclin for Pulmonary Hypertension With Associated Congenital Heart Defects
Presented at the 1998 ALA/ALS International Conference, Chicago, Ill, April 28, 1998.
From the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY.
Correspondence to Erika Berman Rosenzweig, MD, Columbia Presbyterian Medical, Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, 3959 Broadway, Babies Hospital 2-North, New York, NY 10032-3784. E-mail esb14{at}columbia.edu
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Abstract |
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Background—Although long-term prostacyclin (PGI2) has been shown to improve hemodynamics, quality of life, and survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, its use in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and associated congenital heart defects (CHD) has not been evaluated.
Methods and Results—Twenty patients (15±14 years) with PHT and associated CHD (9 atrial septal defect, 7 ventricular septal defect, 4 transposition of the great vessels, 3 patient ductus arteriosus, 3 partial anomalous pulmonary venous return, and 1 aortopulmonary window) who failed conventional therapy (including digitalis; diuretics; oxygen; warfarin; calcium channel blockade, if indicated; and surgery, if operable) were treated with chronic PGI2. Eleven patients had previous cardiac surgery at a median age of 3 years (range, 5 days to 47 years). Eleven of 20 patients had residual systemic to pulmonary shunts. Hemodynamics, NYHA functional class, and exercise capacity were measured at baseline and after 1 year of PGI2 therapy. None of the patients acutely responded to PGI2 administration. Despite lack of an acute response, mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased 21% on chronic PGI2: 77±20 to 61±15 mm Hg (P<0.01, n=16). Cardiac index and pulmonary vascular resistance also improved on long-term PGI2: 3.5±2.0 to 5.9±2.7 L · min-1 · m-2 (P<0.01, n=16), and 25±13 to 12±7 U · m2 (P<0.01, n=16), respectively. NYHA functional class improved from 3.2±0.7 to 2.0±0.9 (P<0.0001, n=19). Exercise capacity increased from 408±149 to 460±99 m (P=0.13, n=14) on long-term PGI2.
Conclusions—Chronic PGI2 improves hemodynamics and quality of life in patients with PHT and associated CHD who fail conventional therapy. As previously demonstrated in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, long-term PGI2 may have an important role in the treatment of patients with PHT and associated CHD.
Key Words: hypertension, pulmonary • heart defects, congenital • prostacyclin
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Introduction |
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Prostacyclin (PGI2), is a potent short-acting vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation produced by the vascular endothelium. PGI2 decreases pulmonary vascular resistance and increases cardiac output and systemic oxygen delivery when acutely administered to patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), and this response has been used to determine whether long-term oral vasodilator therapy is warranted.1 2 With the availability of PGI2 for continuous intravenous administration, long-term PGI2 has been shown to improve hemodynamics and quality of life as well as increase survival in patients with severe PPH.3 4 5 6
In 1985, Bush et al first reported using intravenous PGI2 for acute pulmonary vasodilator testing in children with congenital heart defects (CHD) and secondary pulmonary hypertension.7 8 Although he suggested that PGI2 might have a role in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and associated CHD, long-term PGI2 therapy has not been reported for these patients. We are presenting 20 patients with PHT and associated CHD; these patients, having failed conventional therapy, were treated with long-term PGI2.
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Methods |
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Patient Selection
Twenty patients (15±14 years) with PHT associated with CHD were started on continuous intravenous PGI2 between 1992 and 1996. Both the acute vasodilator testing with PGI2 and long-term PGI2 therapy are Institutional Review Board–approved studies at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. Written informed consent was obtained from all adult patients or from parents of each child. In addition to PHT associated with a CHD, patient selection criteria included (1) clinically symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension with no evidence of systemic ventricular dysfunction or pulmonary venous hypertension, (2) lack of an acute response with PGI2 testing (as defined below),1 and (3) failure to improve clinically and hemodynamically on conventional therapy. Conventional therapy included digitalis; diuretics; supplemental oxygen; warfarin;9 calcium channel blockade, if indicated;2 and surgical correction, if operable. Untoward effects which precluded the use of calcium channel blockers included right heart failure during acute testing or intolerable symptoms during chronic administration such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or headaches. Patients were considered responders to acute PGI2 vasodilator testing if they met the following criteria: (1)
20% decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure
(PAPm), (2) increase in cardiac index, and (3) no change or decrease in
the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) to systemic vascular
resistance ratio.1 Previous studies have demonstrated that
PPH patients who respond to acute vasodilator testing usually respond
to conventional therapy, and patients who are acute nonresponders do
not improve with conventional therapy alone.2
Clinical, Exercise, and Hemodynamic Parameters
Clinical assessment (NYHA functional
class), exercise capacity (6-minute walk), and
hemodynamic parameters were measured at
baseline, ie, at the time of initiation of long-term PGI2 therapy;
these were repeated after 1 year on continuous PGI2.
Patients underwent right heart cardiac catheterization using standard techniques. Cardiac output was calculated by Fick method with measured oxygen consumption. Before starting long-term PGI2, acute PGI2 testing was performed.1 Venous access for the delivery of long-term PGI2 was obtained by the insertion of a permanent catheter into the subclavian or jugular vein before hospital discharge.3 PGI2 was infused continuously with the use of a portable infusion pump.3 Initial PGI2 dose ranged from 2 to 14 ng · kg-1 · min-1 (mean dose 4±3 ng · kg-1 · min-1, n=20) and was progressively increased to maintain an optimal therapeutic dose similar to its use in patients with PPH.4 After initiation, the dose was subsequently increased until the patient reached a clinical plateau, usually occurring within the first 6 to 12 months after starting PGI2. Thereafter, the PGI2 dose was increased to prevent the recurrence of pulmonary hypertension symptoms, eg, dyspnea on exertion or exercise intolerance. The patients continued conventional therapy, including oral calcium channel blockers (if they had been receiving them before starting PGI2). Sixteen patients underwent repeat right heart cardiac catheterization after 1 year on PGI2.
In 16 patients, hemodynamic data were available either before or during conventional therapy alone. Fourteen of the 16 patients were evaluated at other institutions before referral. These data were used to compare hemodynamics on conventional therapy with baseline hemodynamics obtained just before initiation of PGI2, to determine whether there was hemodynamic improvement with conventional therapy alone. In addition, there were 7 patients who had undergone surgical correction of their CHD for whom preoperative and postoperative data were available.
Data Analysis
Data are shown as mean±SD. Statistical comparisons for
paired data were analyzed by Student's paired t
test. ANOVA was performed for repeated measures. Post hoc tests of
individual differences were performed using Tukey's procedure.
Logistic regression was used to analyze outcome data.
Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.
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Results |
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Patient Population
Baseline clinical, demographic, and hemodynamic parameters are shown in Table 1
(see Appendix for
individual patient profiles). Patients ranged in age from 22 months to
51 years with a mean age of 15±14 years (median age 10 years). There
were 8 males and 12 females. A variety of congenital heart defects were
present: atrial septal defect (n=9), ventricular septal
defect (n=7), transposition of the great vessels (n=4), patent ductus
arteriosus (n=3), partial anomalous pulmonary venous return
(n=3), and aortopulmonary window (n=1). Six patients had
> 1 CHD. Eleven patients underwent surgical repair of their CHD before
starting long-term PGI2 at a median age of 3 years (range, 5 days to 47
years). Four patients were <1 year at the time of operation and had
not undergone preoperative cardiac catheterization. The
remaining 7 patients had preoperative and postoperative
hemodynamic studies from other institutions (Table 2). For these 7 patients, the
preoperative PAPm was 60±17 mm Hg, systemic arterial
pressure mean 86±11 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance
14±6 U · m2, mixed venous oxygen saturation 65±5%,
and systemic arterial saturation 92±6%. There were no
significant changes in any of these parameters at
postoperative cardiac catheterization (2.2±1.6 years;
range, 1 to 5 years postoperatively). Surgical repairs for all patients
included atrial septal defect (n=4), patient ductus arteriosus
(n=2), partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (n=2), ventricular
septal defect (n=1), aortopulmonary window repairs (n=1), and
arterial switch (n=2), Mustard (n=1), and Senning (n=1)
operations. A total of 11 patients had unoperated (n=8) or residual
postoperative (n=3) systemic to pulmonary shunts. Of the
9 patients who did not undergo surgical repair, 1 patient had
spontaneous closure of a ventricular septal defect by 2
years. The net direction of the shunt at baseline is shown by the Qp:Qs
ratios in Table 1. Ten patients were receiving chronic oral
calcium channel blockers at the time of initiation of PGI2 (see
Appendix). None of the 20 patients had a history of failure to thrive
or congestive heart failure in infancy suggestive of a large left to
right shunt (eg, significant pulmonary vascular
overcirculation, early in life).
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Hemodynamic Effects of Acute and Chronic
PGI2
Sixteen patients had hemodynamic data
available before initiation of conventional therapy or on conventional
therapy alone. Serial studies before and during conventional therapy
demonstrated no hemodynamic improvement on conventional
therapy alone, eg, PAPm increased from 67±22 to 77±20 mm Hg
(n=16) on conventional therapy alone.
Sixteen patients underwent repeat right heart
catheterization after 1 year on continuous PGI2 (follow
up: 15±6 months; range, 8 to 28 months). Three patients were not
restudied: poor venous access in 2 and 1 patient declined. One patient
died after 4 months while awaiting transplantation (follow-up
catheterization at 3 months; follow-up data are not
included in the comparative data). The mean dose of PGI2 at follow-up
was 82±37
ng · kg-1 · min-1
(n=16; range, 49 to 195
ng · kg-1 · min-1).
Hemodynamic effects of acute and long-term PGI2 for the
16 patients who underwent repeat study are shown in Table 3. All patients were nonresponders to
acute vasodilator testing and therefore would not be expected to
benefit from chronic calcium channel blockers.2 Although
there was no significant change in PAPm with acute PGI2 testing (77±20
versus 77±20 mm Hg; n=16), on long-term PGI2 therapy, PAPm
decreased 21% (77±20 to 61±15 mm Hg; P<0.01,
n=16). In addition, cardiac index increased 69% (3.5±1.6 to 5.9±2.7
L · min-1 · m-2;
P<0.01, n=16), PVR decreased 52% (25±13 to 12±7
U · m2; P<0.01, n=16), and mixed venous
oxygen saturation increased compared with baseline: (64±7% to
70±8%; P<0.01, n=16). These data illustrate that, similar
to PPH patients, lack of an acute PGI2 response does not preclude
significant hemodynamic improvement on long-term
PGI2.
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Two patients (patients 10 and 16) had significant right heart failure, eg, mean right atrial pressures (RAPm) were 15 and 19 mm Hg, respectively, at baseline. On PGI2 therapy, RAPm did not decrease in either: 1 patient died after 4 months. RAPm was 19 mm Hg at repeat catheterization after 3 months, and at repeat catheterization after 1 year in the other patient, RAPm was 17 mm Hg. There were no significant complications in the latter patient, and despite lack of significant improvement in RAPm, all other hemodynamic variables improved. In addition, the patient's 6-minute walk test (72 to 288 m) and NYHA functional class (IV to II) improved. Overall, RAPm did not change significantly on long-term PGI2 (6±5 versus 8±4 mm Hg; P=0.09, n=16).
Mean systemic arterial pressure did not change on long-term PGI2 therapy (79±12 versus 74±9 mm Hg; n=16, P=NS). In addition, systemic arterial oxygen saturation remained unchanged for the group (91±5% versus 91±7%; n=16), including those patients with residual systemic to pulmonary shunts (90±6% versus 90±7%; n=10). Systemic oxygen delivery improved on long-term PGI2 (580±222 to 940±416 mL · min-1 · m-2; n=16, P<0.001), including those patients with residual shunts (646±185 to 938±409 mL · min-1 · m-2; n=10, P<0.05).
NYHA Functional Class and Exercise Capacity
Seventeen patients were NYHA functional class III (n=10) or
IV (n=7) at the initiation of continuous PGI2; 3 were NYHA functional
class II. NYHA functional class improved on long-term PGI2: 3.2±0.7 to
2.0±0.9 (n=19, P<0.0001) consistent with increased
systemic oxygen delivery. Functional class improved in 14 and remained
unchanged in 5 patients. In the one patient who died after 4 months,
there was no change in NYHA functional class at 3-month follow-up.
Exercise capacity was assessed using the 6-minute walk test in all patients old enough to perform the test reliably (n=15), ie, patients 5 years or older. Fourteen had repeat testing after 1 year. The 6-minute walk test increased from 408±149 to 460±99 m (n=14; P=0.13).
Complications
Complications attributable to PGI2 were frequent and
included jaw pain (n=14), rash (n=8), arthralgias (n=6), and
nausea/vomiting (n=2). These side effects occurred with similar
incidence to PPH patients treated with long-term PGI2.2 3 4
During the first year on PGI2, complications related to the PGI2
delivery system included dislodged central venous lines (n=7), local
central venous line infections (n=4), and pump malfunction (n=2). There
were no episodes of catheter-related sepsis.
Outcome
Sixteen patients remain on long-term PGI2 (follow-up 16
months to 5.5 years), 3 patients underwent lung transplantation
(after 10, 11, and 17 months, respectively, on PGI2), and 1 patient
died after 4 months awaiting transplantation. Eight of the 12 patients
listed for transplantation have been taken off the active transplant
list because of persistent clinical and hemodynamic
improvement. There were no differences in baseline
hemodynamic parameters between the patients
taken off the active list compared with the patients who remained on
the transplant list or died, although this may be due to a small sample
size. In addition, one patient with an atrial septal defect (patient
13, see Appendix
) went from having an inoperable atrial septal defect
to an operable CHD on PGI2 therapy. Her Qp:Qs ratio increased from
2.8:1 to 4.1:1 on long-term PGI2. This patient subsequently had her
atrial septal defect partially closed and remains on PGI2. Another
institution might have considered closure of the atrial septal defect,
given this patient's baseline hemodynamics. However,
on the basis of the overall risk-benefit considerations, the degree of
pulmonary vascular disease, and age of presentation
(7), we chose to treat with PGI2 with the aim of making the patient
operable.
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Discussion |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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On the basis of previously demonstrated efficacy of long-term intravenous PGI2 therapy in patients with PPH who fail conventional therapy, we present our experience in 20 patients with PHT and associated CHD with pulmonary vascular changes similar to PPH patients.10 Although it is unclear why these patients developed pulmonary vascular disease when other patients with CHD have reversible or much milder pulmonary vascular disease, long-term PGI2 therapy improves quality of life and hemodynamic parameters in patients with PHT and associated CHD who fail conventional therapy.3 5
Conventional therapy for PPH patients has classically
included digitalis; diuretics; supplemental oxygen; warfarin;
and calcium channel blockade, if indicated. Previous surgical repair of
the CHD was included in our definition of conventional therapy for
patients in whom surgical repair was performed. All patients treated
with long-term PGI2 had failed conventional therapy, clinically and
hemodynamically. Previous studies in PPH patients have
demonstrated that chronic vasodilator therapy (ie, with calcium channel
blockade) in acute responders to vasodilator testing and with
continuous infusion of PGI2 in acute nonresponders, as well as in
patients who fail conventional therapy despite an initial acute
vasodilator response, is effective in improving symptoms,
hemodynamics, and survival.2 3 6 11 Thus,
our rationale for using PGI2 in patients with PHT and associated CHD
was based on similar histopathology in PPH and PHT secondary to CHD
even if the pathogenesis might be different.10 Also, the
preoperative hemodynamics demonstrated that in addition
to severe PHT, the pulmonary vascular resistance was higher in
all cases than we would have expected for these patients, reflecting
significant pulmonary vascular disease preoperatively.
Furthermore, for those patients who had previous surgery and complete
repair of their cardiac defects, their postoperative physiology more
closely resembled PPH. We speculated that these patients would respond
to PGI2 similarly to the experience with PPH patients who fail
conventional therapy. Our data supports this with the patients who had
PHT and associated CHD responding to long-term PGI2, not unlike PPH
patients (eg, significant hemodynamic
improvement on long-term PGI2 despite lack of an acute response to PGI2
administration)5 (Table 3).
The definition of PPH, as described by the NIH Registry on PPH,12 excludes patients with CHD: PHT associated with CHD is thought to result from a different mechanism, eg, in patients with systemic to pulmonary shunts, increased pulmonary blood flow with increased pulmonary artery pressure results in increased shear stress leading to pulmonary vascular obstructive changes and shunt reversal. This phenomenon, of PHT secondary to CHD, first described by Victor Eisenmenger in 1897,13 was later termed the Eisenmenger syndrome.14 Previous publications have shown that in most cases of CHD with systemic to pulmonary shunts, early repair of the cardiac defects, (usually by age 2), prevents irreversible pulmonary vascular obstructive disease,15 although exceptions to this teaching have been reported.16 17 In selecting our patients for long-term PGI2 therapy, we speculated that these patients may have had pulmonary vascular disease that was similar to PPH and triggered or exacerbated by the CHD(s). In the patients who underwent early hemodynamic evaluation, pulmonary blood flow was not significantly increased despite significant PHT, suggesting that some patients with CHD may be more prone to develop pulmonary vascular disease than others, even without large systemic to pulmonary shunts. These patients may represent a subgroup in the spectrum of pulmonary vascular disease that exists between PPH and Eisenmenger syndrome; this raises the question whether uncomplicated CHDs, which are not severe enough to cause pulmonary vascular obstructive disease alone (eg, a small ventricular septal defect), may serve as a trigger for the development of PPH.
Our findings may also have implications for treating patients with the classic Eisenmenger syndrome, ie, in whom shunt reversal has occurred. Long-term PGI2 therapy may slow the progression of the Eisenmenger syndrome and render some Eisenmenger patients operable with partial surgical repair leaving an atrial septostomy. This may ultimately improve cyanosis, oxygen delivery, and quality of life. Physicians have been wary about using vasodilators in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome in the presence of systemic to pulmonary shunts because of the possibility of a greater fall in systemic resistance compared with pulmonary resistance resulting in increased right to left shunting. However, in our patients with residual shunts, we did not see an increase in right to left shunting, ie, systemic vascular resistance did not fall more than pulmonary vascular resistance, nor did we see a fall in systemic arterial blood pressure on long-term PGI2. In the 10 patients with residual shunts, there was a significant improvement in oxygen delivery on long-term PGI2. The finding that systemic arterial oxygen saturation did not improve significantly with treatment may be related to the small sample size (n=10).
One of the limitations of our study was an inability to do survival analysis owing to lack of a control group. Sample size was also a limitation for analyzing changes on long-term PGI2 therapy, eg, whether the observed increase in RAPm in 2 patients with PHT and atrial septal defects is clinically significant warrants further study. One might consider the heterogeneity of age and type of CHD another limitation of this study. We would, however, like to emphasize that our observations in this group of patients with a variety of CHDs and ages responding favorably to long-term PGI2 suggests that PGI2 therapy may be effective in a wide range of patients. Although the exact mechanism(s) of action remains unclear, the indications for long-term PGI2 may be broader than the current recommendations. Studying the unusual patient, as opposed to the typical patient with PPH, may offer insight into why some patients develop pulmonary vascular disease and others do not; it may also offer clues as to how long-term PGI2 may remodel the pulmonary vascular bed.
In conclusion, long-term PGI2 improves hemodynamic and quality of life parameters in patients with PHT and associated CHD who fail conventional therapy. In addition to its use as a palliative bridge to transplantation, long-term PGI2 may also be an alternative to transplantation in selected patients, enabling previously inoperable patients to become operable. Our observations suggest that long-term PGI2 may play an important role in the treatment of patients with PHT and associated CHD, just as it does for PPH patients. We would like to emphasize that although these patients (all of whom were nonresponders to acute vasodilator testing and failed conventional treatment) improved on long-term PGI2, all patients with PHT and associated CHD should not be empirically treated with long-term PGI2. On the basis of overall risk-benefit considerations, patients should first undergo evaluation, including acute vasodilator testing, and be considered for long-term PGI2 only if they are acute nonresponders during vasodilator testing or fail conventional therapy regardless of their acute vasodilator response.
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Acknowledgments |
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This study was supported in part by the Hatch Young Cardiovascular Medicine Training Fellowship research grant and a grant from the National Institute of Health, National Center for Research Resources: RR-00645.
Received August 20, 1998; revision received December 1, 1998; accepted December 29, 1998.
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 National Pulmonary Hypertension Centres of the UK Consensus statement on the management of pulmonary hypertension in clinical practice in the UK and Ireland Thorax, March 1, 2008; 63(Suppl_2): ii1 - ii41. [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Rubenfire, V. V. McLaughlin, R. P. Allen, G. Elliott, M. H. Park, M. Wade, and R. Schilz Transition From IV Epoprostenol to Subcutaneous Treprostinil in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Controlled Trial Chest, September 1, 2007; 132(3): 757 - 763. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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G.-P. Diller and M. A. Gatzoulis Pulmonary Vascular Disease in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Circulation, February 27, 2007; 115(8): 1039 - 1050. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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V. V. McLaughlin and M. D. McGoon Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Circulation, September 26, 2006; 114(13): 1417 - 1431. [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. Ulrich, M. Fischler, R. Speich, V. Popov, and M. Maggiorini Chronic thromboembolic and pulmonary arterial hypertension share acute vasoreactivity properties. Chest, September 1, 2006; 130(3): 841 - 846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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T. Adriaenssens, M. Delcroix, K. Van Deyk, and W. Budts Advanced therapy may delay the need for transplantation in patients with the Eisenmenger syndrome Eur. Heart J., June 2, 2006; 27(12): 1472 - 1477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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I. Lang, M. Gomez-Sanchez, M. Kneussl, R. Naeije, P. Escribano, N. Skoro-Sajer, and J.-L. Vachiery Efficacy of Long-term Subcutaneous Treprostinil Sodium Therapy in Pulmonary Hypertension Chest, June 1, 2006; 129(6): 1636 - 1643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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R. L. Benza, B. K. Rayburn, J. A. Tallaj, C. S. Coffey, L. J. Pinderski, S. V. Pamoukian, and R. C. Bourge Efficacy of bosentan in a small cohort of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease. Chest, April 1, 2006; 129(4): 1009 - 1015. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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V. F. Tapson, M. Gomberg-Maitland, V. V. McLaughlin, R. L. Benza, A. C. Widlitz, A. Krichman, and R. J. Barst Safety and Efficacy of IV Treprostinil for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Prospective, Multicenter, Open-Label, 12-Week Trial Chest, March 1, 2006; 129(3): 683 - 688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S C Apostolopoulou, A Manginas, D V Cokkinos, and S Rammos Effect of the oral endothelin antagonist bosentan on the clinical, exercise, and haemodynamic status of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease Heart, November 1, 2005; 91(11): 1447 - 1452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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E. B. Rosenzweig, D. D. Ivy, A. Widlitz, A. Doran, L. R. Claussen, D. Yung, S. H. Abman, A. Morganti, N. Nguyen, and R. J. Barst Effects of Long-Term Bosentan in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 16, 2005; 46(4): 697 - 704. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. D. Nathan Lung Transplantation: Disease-Specific Considerations for Referral Chest, March 1, 2005; 127(3): 1006 - 1016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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Task Force members, N. Galie, A. Torbicki, R. Barst, P. Dartevelle, S. Haworth, T. Higenbottam, H. Olschewski, A. Peacock, G. Pietra, et al. Guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: The Task Force on Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology Eur. Heart J., December 2, 2004; 25(24): 2243 - 2278. [Full Text] [PDF]
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M.C. Post, S. Janssens, F. Van de Werf, and W. Budts Responsiveness to inhaled nitric oxide is a predictor for mid-term survival in adult patients with congenital heart defects and pulmonary arterial hypertension Eur. Heart J., September 2, 2004; 25(18): 1651 - 1656. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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D. B. Badesch, S. H. Abman, G. S. Ahearn, R. J. Barst, D. C. McCrory, G. Simonneau, and V. V. McLaughlin Medical Therapy For Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Chest, July 1, 2004; 126(1_suppl): 35S - 62S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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V. V. McLaughlin, K. W. Presberg, R. L. Doyle, S. H. Abman, D. C. McCrory, T. Fortin, and G. Ahearn Prognosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension*: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Chest, July 1, 2004; 126(1_suppl): 78S - 92S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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P. Bresser, P.F. Fedullo, W.R. Auger, R.N. Channick, I.M. Robbins, K.M. Kerr, S.W. Jamieson, and L.J. Rubin Continuous intravenous epoprostenol for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2004; 23(4): 595 - 600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Wade, F. J. Baker, R. Roscigno, W. DellaMaestra, T. L. Hunt, and A. A. Lai Absolute Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics of Treprostinil Sodium Administered by Acute Subcutaneous Infusion J. Clin. Pharmacol., January 1, 2004; 44(1): 83 - 88. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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H. Olschewski, B. Rohde, J. Behr, R. Ewert, T. Gessler, H. A. Ghofrani, and T. Schmehl Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Inhaled Iloprost, Aerosolized by Three Different Devices, in Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Chest, October 1, 2003; 124(4): 1294 - 1304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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C. Geohas and V. V. McLaughlin Successful Management of Pregnancy in a Patient With Eisenmenger Syndrome With Epoprostenol Chest, September 1, 2003; 124(3): 1170 - 1173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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R. J. Barst, M. McGoon, V. McLaughlin, V. Tapson, R. Oudiz, S. Shapiro, I. M. Robbins, R. Channick, D. Badesch, B. K. Rayburn, et al. Beraprost therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 18, 2003; 41(12): 2119 - 2125. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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L. Stiebellehner, V. Petkov, K. Vonbank, G. Funk, P. Schenk, R. Ziesche, and L.-H. Block Long-term Treatment With Oral Sildenafil in Addition to Continuous IV Epoprostenol in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Chest, April 1, 2003; 123(4): 1293 - 1295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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N. Galie, A. Manes, and A. Branzi The new clinical trials on pharmacological treatment in pulmonary arterial hypertension Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2002; 20(4): 1037 - 1049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. D. J. Ten Harkel, N. A. Blom, and J. Ottenkamp Isolated Unilateral Absence of a Pulmonary Artery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature Chest, October 1, 2002; 122(4): 1471 - 1477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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V. V. McLaughlin, A. Shillington, and S. Rich Survival in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension: The Impact of Epoprostenol Therapy Circulation, September 17, 2002; 106(12): 1477 - 1482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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N. Galie, M. Humbert, J.-L. Vachiery, C. Vizza, M. Kneussl, A. Manes, O. Sitbon, A. Torbicki, M. Delcroix, R. Naeije, et al. Effects of beraprost sodium, an oral prostacyclin analogue, in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 1, 2002; 39(9): 1496 - 1502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J.-L. Vachiery, N. Hill, D. Zwicke, R. Barst, S. Blackburn, and R. Naeije Transitioning From IV Epoprostenol to Subcutaneous Treprostinil in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension* Chest, May 1, 2002; 121(5): 1561 - 1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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F. C. Blumberg, G. A. J. Riegger, and M. Pfeifer Hemodynamic Effects of Aerosolized Iloprost in Pulmonary Hypertension at Rest and During Exercise* Chest, May 1, 2002; 121(5): 1566 - 1571. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. M. Hoeper, N. Galie, G. Simonneau, and L. J. Rubin New Treatments for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2002; 165(9): 1209 - 1216. [Full Text] [PDF]
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G. SIMONNEAU, R. J. BARST, N. GALIE, R. NAEIJE, S. RICH, R. C. BOURGE, A. KEOGH, R. OUDIZ, A. FROST, S. D. BLACKBURN, et al. Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of Treprostinil, a Prostacyclin Analogue, in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension . A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 15, 2002; 165(6): 800 - 804. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Beghetti, G. Reber, P. de Moerloose, L. Vadas, A. Chiappe, I. Spahr-Schopfer, and P.C. Rimensberger Aerosolized iloprost induces a mild but sustained inhibition of platelet aggregation Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2002; 19(3): 518 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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C D Vizza, S Sciomer, S Morelli, C Lavalle, P Di Marzio, D Padovani, R Badagliacca, A R Vestri, R Naeije, and F Fedele Long term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension with beraprost, an oral prostacyclin analogue Heart, December 1, 2001; 86(6): 661 - 665. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. SANDOVAL, J. S. AGUIRRE, T. PULIDO, M. L. MARTINEZ-GUERRA, E. SANTOS, P. ALVARADO, M. ROSAS, and E. BAUTISTA Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy in Patients with the Eisenmenger Syndrome Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 2001; 164(9): 1682 - 1687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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W Budts, N Van Pelt, H Gillyns, M Gewillig, F Van de Werf, and S Janssens Residual pulmonary vasoreactivity to inhaled nitric oxide in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome Heart, November 1, 2001; 86(5): 553 - 558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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H. Yamauchi, S. Yamaki, M. Fujii, H. Iwaki, and S. Tanaka Reduction in recalcitrant pulmonary hypertension after operation for atrial septal defect Ann. Thorac. Surg., September 1, 2001; 72(3): 905 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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Y. Kaneko, Y. Suematsu, K. Maeda, A. Murakami, and S. Takamoto Superior vena cava-left atrial connection for Eisenmenger syndrome J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., September 1, 2001; 122(3): 634 - 635. [Full Text] [PDF]
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British Cardiac Society Guidelines and Medical Pra Recommendations on the management of pulmonary hypertension in clinical practice Heart, September 1, 2001; 86(90001): i1 - 13. [Full Text] [PDF]
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B. W. Holcomb, J. E. Loyd, B. F. Byrd III, T. T. Wilsdorf, T. Casey-Cato, W. R. Mason, and I. M. Robbins Iatrogenic Paradoxical Air Embolism in Pulmonary Hypertension Chest, May 1, 2001; 119(5): 1602 - 1606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. B. O'Blenes, S. Fischer, B. McIntyre, S. Keshavjee, and M. Rabinovitch Hemodynamic unloading leads to regression of pulmonary vascular disease in rats J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 2001; 121(2): 0279 - 289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. Wharton, N. Davie, P. D. Upton, M. H. Yacoub, J. M. Polak, and N. W. Morrell Prostacyclin Analogues Differentially Inhibit Growth of Distal and Proximal Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells Circulation, December 19, 2000; 102(25): 3130 - 3136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. E. Brickner, L. D. Hillis, and R. A. Lange Congenital Heart Disease in Adults- Second of Two Parts N. Engl. J. Med., February 3, 2000; 342(5): 334 - 342. [Full Text] [PDF]
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B.M Weiss and O.M Hess Pulmonary vascular disease and pregnancy: current controversies, management strategies, and perspectives Eur. Heart J., January 2, 2000; 21(2): 104 - 115. [PDF]
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I. M. Robbins, S. P. Gaine, R. Schilz, V. F. Tapson, L. J. Rubin, and J. E. Loyd Epoprostenol for Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus* Chest, January 1, 2000; 117(1): 14 - 18. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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