title: [Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors].
abstract: Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5I) are an important new class of drugs in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PHT). Sildenafil, a selective PDE5I, through its action on the NO/cGMP signal pathway, causes a selective reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance and improves symptoms and exercise capacity of patients with PHT. The phase III trial (SUPER-1) has clearly shown the efficacy and safety of sildenafil in PHT so that its use for this indication has recently been approved. Current guidelines of several large specialist societies have included sildenafil for the treatment of PHT, supported by a high degree of evidence. Sildenafil can also be combined with other drugs and has the potential of being efficacious also in other forms of pulmonary hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik II/V, Zentrum für Inneren Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg, Klinikstrasse 36, 35392 Giessen. ardeschir.ghofrani@uglc.de
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ghofrani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grimminger
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D002243:Carbolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068581:Tadalafil; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D007093:Imidazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D000068581:Tadalafil; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human