title: [Continuous intravenous prostacyclin therapy].
abstract: Intravenous prostacyclin therapy has been established as the standard therapy for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Thus, it is strongly recommended by the guidelines in United States, Europe, and Japan on treatment of severely ill patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension based on the several controlled trials. The half-life of epoprostenol is so short that it needs to be administered by continuous infusion pump and indwelled central venous catheter, which could induce life-threatening adverse events such as pump malfunction, catheter obstruction and infection. Despite such complexities, it should not be hesitated to introduce the most effective treatment--continuous intravenous prostacyclin therapy--for patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center.
authors.forename: Katsumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyaji
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsubara
mesh_terms: D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous
chemical_list: D011464:Epoprostenol