Effects of chronic sildenafil in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome versus idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.
BACKGROUND
To test the hypothesis that chronic sildenafil treatment has similar functional and hemodynamic effects in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension due to Eisenmenger syndrome as those due to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension without intracardiac shunts.


METHODS
A prospective open-label study was carried out to compare the effects of sildenafil on the pulmonary hemodynamics between two groups of patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and similar baseline functional capacity--Eisenmenger syndrome (ES group) (n=7) versus idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH group) (n=6).


RESULTS
After 6 months of sildenafil, there was a significant improvement in the functional capacity, the arterial saturation and the pulmonary hemodynamics in the ES group, as shown by significant reduction in the systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures and the pulmonary vascular resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
Sildenafil increases pulmonary blood flow and improves cyanosis in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Efficacy of sildenafil as treatment for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension may be extended to patients with Eisenmenger syndrome.
Chau
Elaine M C
EM
Department of Cardiology, Grantham Hospital, 125 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong. echau@hkucc.hku.hk
Fan
Katherine Y Y
KY
Chow
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D004541:Eisenmenger Complex / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011687:Purines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013599:Systole; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D010100:Oxygen