title: Pilot study of short-term effects of a novel long-acting oral beraprost in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral prostacyclin analogs can improve the prognosis of patients with mild to moderate pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but because they often provoke adverse effects, such as flushing and dizziness, administering the optimal dose can be difficult.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, a novel long-acting oral beraprost (TRK-100STP: 0-360 mug/day for 12 weeks) was administered to 4 patients with mild to moderate PAH. The patients tolerated the drug well with mild adverse manifestations and negligible effects on the systemic circulation. In contrast, pulmonary vascular resistance decreased by 27+/-12% and the 6-min walk test distance increased by 11+/-11%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TRK-100STP is a novel option in the medical management of patients with PAH.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Ichizo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsujino
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakaue
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohira
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamigaki
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishimaru
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C048081:beraprost; D011464:Epoprostenol