title: Long-term therapy of interferon-alpha induced pulmonary arterial hypertension with different PDE-5 inhibitors: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon alpha2 is widely used in hepatitis and high-risk melanoma. Interferon-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension as a side effect is rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a melanoma patient who developed severe pulmonary arterial hypertension 30 months after initiation of adjuvant interferon alpha2b therapy. Discontinuation of interferon did not improve pulmonary arterial hypertension. This patient could be treated successfully with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is only the 5th case of interferon-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension and the first documented case where pulmonary arterial hypertension was not reversible after termination of interferon alpha2 therapy. If interferon alpha2 treated patients develop respiratory symptoms, pulmonary arterial hypertension should be considered in the differential diagnosis. For these patients phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, e.g. sildenafil or vardenafil, could be an effective therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany. nicoline.jochmann@charite.de
authors.forename: Nicoline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jochmann
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiecker
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Maja A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eddicks
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterry
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Trefzer
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D000328:Adult; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human