title: [The efficacy and safety of bosentan therapy for Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: an open-label, prospective multicenter study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of bosentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, in Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 79 IPAH patients (hemodynamic criteria confirmed by right heart catheterization) were included in this open-label, prospective multicenter study. Patients received 62.5 mg of bosentan twice daily for the first 4 weeks, and then up-titrated to 125 mg twice daily for another 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change in exercise capacity showed by six-minute walk distance (6MWD) from baseline to 16 weeks. Secondary end points included the change in World Health Organization (WHO) functional class, Borg dyspnoea scale and systolic pulmonary artery pressure measured by echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 6MWD increased from (343.7 ± 93.7) meters at baseline to (397.5 ± 104.4) meters after 16 weeks (P < 0.01), WHO functional class and Borg dyspnoea scale were also significantly improved after 16 weeks therapy compared to baseline levels (all P < 0.01). Furthermore, the systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly decreased from (97.8 ± 25.2) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (92.8 ± 29.5) mm Hg (P < 0.05) after 16 weeks bosentan treatment. There was no patient withdrawal from this study for safety consideration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bosentan therapy is well tolerated and can improve the exercise capacity and WHO functional class in Chinese IPAH patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Li-zhi
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zai-xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Guang-yi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bing-xiang
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhi-cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D000077300:Bosentan; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077300:Bosentan