title: Effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors on pulmonary hemodynamics in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serotonin promotes pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation, thereby having the potential to increase pulmonary arterial blood pressure. Although serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) might inhibit further deterioration in patients with manifest pulmonary arterial hypertension, they may induce pulmonary hypertension in healthy newborns after fetal exposure. As it is unclear whether treatment with SRIs affects pulmonary hemodynamics in adults without pulmonary hypertension, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of SRIs on pulmonary hemodynamics in such subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with stable angina pectoris scheduled for first time coronary artery bypass grafting were included in the study. Of these 8 were currently treated with an SRI (the SRI group) and 8 were not (the control group). Pulmonary arterial pressures were measured before induction of anesthesia by means of a pulmonary artery catheter. Serotonin transporter and 5-HT(2A) receptor gene polymorphisms and platelet 5-HT(2A) receptor expression were studied to elucidate their possible role as modifying factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patients in any of the groups had pulmonary arterial hypertension. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was 15.0 mmHg in the SRI group and 14.5 mmHg in the control group (P = 0.50; 95% confidence interval for the difference, -2.9 to +3.9 mmHg). Neither were there any significant differences between the groups for any of the other hemodynamic variables studied. The various gene polymorphisms and the extent of platelet 5-HT(2A) receptor expression did not influence the hemodynamic variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRI treatment did not significantly influence pulmonary hemodynamics in patients without pulmonary hypertension.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Serotonin; Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; Pulmonary hemodynamics; Pulmonary hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Intensive Care, St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pleym
authors.forename: Guri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greiff
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mjorndal
authors.forename: Roar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stenseth
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wahba
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Spigset