title: [Effectiveness of continuous intravenous prostaglandin E 1 against pulmonary hypertension].
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease for which no effective therapy has been found. Short-team treatment with alprostadil alfadex (PGE 1) can improve hemodynamics but the effects of long-term treatment have not been reported. We administered intravenous PGE 1 to 16 patients with pulmonary hypertension for 4 weeks in addition to conventional therapy. Hemodynamic and symptomatic effects were evaluated. The infusion was interrupted in 7 patients (44%) because of fever and an increase in levels of C-reactive protein in serum. In the remaining 9 patients, the drug lowered pulmonary artery pressure and resistance, and imareased cardiac output significantly in 7 patients. PGE 1 can improve hemodynamics and relieve symptoms in patients with pulmonary hypertension, barring severe side effects.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satomi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyotani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunieda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000527:Alprostadil