title: Sildenafil for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in children.
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a serious disease in children, but few clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate treatment regimens in this population. Currently, treatment of children with PAH is mostly based on clinical studies conducted in adults and a few dedicated pediatric studies. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has an established efficacy and safety profile for the treatment of adults with PAH. In May 2011, sildenafil received approval for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 1-17 years in the EU; however, pediatric use is not approved in the USA. This systematic literature review summarizes the clinical data available on the use of sildenafil to treat children with PAH and pulmonary hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Geneva, 6 rue Willy-Donze, CH-1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beghetti
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wacker Bou Puigdefabregas
authors.forename: Sausan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017277:Drug Approval; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate
keywords: adolescent; child; clinical trial; nitric oxide; phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor; pulmonary arterial hypertension; pulmonary hypertension; sildenafil