title: Sildenafil in the management of primary pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare disorder of unknown etiology with a poor prognosis. There is no cure, and drug therapy is effective in only a few patients. Calcium-channel antagonists and anticoagulants are the mainstay of therapy. Prostacyclin therapy leads to significant clinical improvement but its use is restricted due to high cost and complex drug delivery systems. Sildenafil is a selective vasodilator and has been shown to be effective in decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance in animal models of pulmonary hypertension. We report the use of sildenafil in two patients of primary pulmonary hypertension who were refractory to conventional drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology, Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, New Delhi.
authors.forename: Balbir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ripen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Punj
authors.forename: Tapan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghose
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapra
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Upendra
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate