Clinical use of sildenafil in pulmonary artery hypertension.
Severe pulmonary hypertension is a debilitating disease with short life expectancy that often affects young people. It is usually idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension and is characterized by progressive elevation of pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance, right ventricular failure and death with a limited median survival time. There is an imbalance in vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory substances. The phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil, a pulmonary and penile vasodilator initially approved for erectile dysfunction, is found to be efficacious in severe pulmonary artery hypertension. There are limited treatment options for the management of pulmonary artery hypertension in developing countries and sildenafil is a reasonable treatment option. This article reviews the relevant clinical data in pulmonary hypertension and the role of sildenafil in its management.
Singh
T P
TP
Prime Heart and Vascular Institute, Shivalik Hospital, Sector-69, Mohali, Punjab, India. tpsinghtp@yahoo.co.in
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate