Sildenafil, pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants remains a serious concern and continues to cause significant morbidity despite improvements in both quality of life and survival for patients. One of the potential agents that might help is sildenafil citrate, a phosphodiesterase-V inhibitor used a first line therapy for idiopathic PH. However, only limited evidence exists for its use as either monotherapy or part of a combination approach towards the management of PH in BPD. The evidence and current knowledge is presented for sildenafil alone and in combination with other disease modifying agents to treat PH in the presence of BPD. We have previously suggested that sildenafil appears to be safe and possibly effective in this condition. We present the evidence that if continued until PH resolution, there might be reduced mortality in this debilitating disease.
Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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S
Herbert
Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: Robert.Tulloh@bristol.ac.uk.
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R
Tulloh
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia BPD; Chronic lung disease; Nitric oxide; Pulmonary hypertension PH; Sildenafil