title: Comparing the Efficacy of Tadalafil Versus Placebo on Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure and Right Ventricular Function in Patients with Beta-Thalassaemia Intermedia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional oral therapies in the management of pulmonary hypertension in people without haemoglobinopathies are of limited value in thalassaemia patients because of toxicity and poor effectiveness. This study was conducted to assess the effect of tadalafil on pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular systolic function in patients with beta-thalassaemia intermedia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with beta-thalassaemia intermedia with pulmonary hypertension based on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were entered in the study. Patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency and also patients who were treated with organic nitrates or alpha-blockers were excluded. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=22) and they were treated for six weeks with tadalafil (40mg daily) or placebo. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) and parameters related to systolic function of the right ventricle were measured by the TTE before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvement in TRV (3.02±0.02 m/s-2.52±0.06 m/s), PASP (45.31±0.66 mmHg-34.26±1.15mmHg) and parameters related to systolic function of the right ventricle were observed in the group who received tadalafil compared to placebo (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tadalafil significantly decreased PASP and TRV in patients with beta-thalassaemia intermedia. Likewise, tadalafil improved right ventricular systolic function in the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Rozita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jalalian
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moghadamnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, Amirkola Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamaddoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Health, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khafri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Electronic address: Driranian@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iranian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D000068581:Tadalafil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000187:drug effects*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000068581:Tadalafil
keywords: Beta-thalassaemia intermedia; Pulmonary hypertension; Right ventricular systolic function; Tadalafil