title: [Evaluation of the effects of vasodilator therapy in primary pulmonary hypertension. Experience in 7 cases].
abstract: Primary pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon but serious disease that often results in debilitating symptoms and early death. One approach to treatment has been to attempt a reduction of pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance by using vasodilator drugs with conflicting results in several studies. The aim of this study is to review the ten-years (1978-1988) experience of vasodilator therapy for primary pulmonary hypertension at our institute. In this period 7 patients, 5 women and 2 men, mean age 38.4 years (range 15-66) met clinical and hemodynamic criteria for primary pulmonary hypertension. At diagnosis 3/7 patients were in NYHA class III and 2/7 in class II. Diagnosis was confirmed by open lung biopsy in one case. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was 66 +/- 17 mmHg, mean value of pulmonary vascular resistances was 22.5 +/- 11 U.W. and of cardiac index 1.8 +/- 0.58 l/min/m2. Twelve different vasodilator drugs were tested during right heart catheterization in a non randomized manner. Various vasodilators were usually tested in the same patient (2 or more drugs in 6 patients). Only one patient did not tolerate acute therapy because of development of a persistent systemic hypotension. Hemodynamic responses to nitrates showed a general reduction in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistances with marginal changes in cardiac index. Calcium channel-blocking agents elicited different responses in similar patients with favorable, little, no or adverse effects in pulmonary hemodynamics and sometimes a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistances. Also hydralazine showed favorable hemodynamic results in few cases but exacerbated pulmonary hypertension in others.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Cardiologia, IRCCS, Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lanzarini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gavazzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mussini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bargiggia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aimè
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arbustini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montemartini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009543:Nifedipine
vernacular_title: Valutazione degli effetti della terapia vasodilatatrice nella ipertensione polmonare primitiva. Esperienza in sette casi.