Epoprostenol in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease leading to right heart failure and death in a relatively young patient population. In recent years novel PAH specific therapies have become available.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the place of epoprostenol in current PAH treatment strategies.


METHODS
An extensive Medline search was performed to evaluate the use of epoprostenol in PAH. Data from both human and animal studies were reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
Epoprostenol is an effective and potent treatment in pulmonary arterial hypertension and has greatly improved survival, exercise capacity, PAH symptoms, pulmonary haemodynamics and disease progression. A main disadvantage is that it can only be delivered through a continuous intravenous pump infusion.
Jacobs
Wouter
W
VU University Medical Center, Department of Pulmonology, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Vonk-Noordegraaf
Anton
A
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044062:Prostaglandins I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D044062:Prostaglandins I; D011464:Epoprostenol