title: Hemodynamic response to sildenafil, nitric oxide, and iloprost in primary pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Different vasodilators and different routes of application are used for the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Recently, sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-V inhibitor, has been shown to have beneficial hemodynamic effects in PPH. However, the hemodynamic effects of sildenafil have not been characterized and compared to other vasodilators such as inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) or iloprost in PPH in the same group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated prospectively 10 consecutive patients with PPH using iNO, iloprost aerosol, and oral sildenafil to test acute hemodynamic response during right-heart catheterization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  iNO, iloprost aerosol, and sildenafil caused a significant fall of mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) [p < 0.05]. Correspondingly, cardiac output and mixed venous saturation increased slightly in all groups. Systemic arterial pressure and vascular resistance were mainly unaltered. Using a PVR reduction of > or =20% to define a significant response, 7 of 10 patients were responders to iloprost aerosol, whereas 4 of 10 patients responded to iNO and oral sildenafil. Improvement of oxygenation as indicated by an increase of arterial oxygen tension was observed with iloprost aerosol (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All of the three substances, iNO, iloprost aerosol, and oral sildenafil, significantly improved pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with PPH. The most prominent hemodynamic effects and improvement of oxygenation were observed with iloprost aerosol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Section for Pulmonary Diseases, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany. hleuchte@helios.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Hanno H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Leuchte
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaiblmair
authors.forename: Rainer A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Claus F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Neurohr
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolbe
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behr
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011687:Purines; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D016285:Iloprost