title: Continuous therapy with intravenous prostacyclin for primary pulmonary hypertension: a bridge to heart-lung transplantation.
abstract: Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) continues to be a major problem. Vasodilator therapy has been of variable success in selected patients. Recently, with the introduction of prostacyclin (Prostaglandin I2, epoprostenon) as a potent vasodilator, several reports have shown a positive effect in primary pulmonary hypertension. We report here two patients with PPH who responded favorably to continuous intravenous therapy with prostacyclin. Both patients responded with a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance, increase in cardiac output and dramatic improvement of right heart failure. Although therapy with prostacyclin is extremely expensive it may be used as a bridge to heart-lung transplantation in patients with end-stage PPH who do not respond adequately to alternative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pulmonology, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Kerem, Israel.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fucks
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berkman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D011464:Epoprostenol