title: Long-term results after addition of sildenafil in idiopathic PAH patients on bosentan.
abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease involving small muscular pulmonary arteries and arterioles. Treatment with prostacyclin analogs and endothelin receptor antagonists is the cornerstone of therapy in these patients. Recent evidence suggests that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil may improve functional capacity and hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Despite these advances, pulmonary arterial hypertension remains a deadly and progressive disease and it has been suggested that combination therapy aimed at multiple targets may produce a greater improvement while minimizing adverse effects. We report three patients who declined after initial improvement on bosentan and subsequently showed an improvement in their functional capacity and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) with the addition of sildenafil. This benefit has been sustained over a mean follow-up period of 19 (range 12-24) months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. minaio@ccf.org
authors.forename: Omar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Minai
authors.forename: Alejandro C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Arroliga
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077300:Bosentan; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013450:Sulfones; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D000077300:Bosentan