1. A comparison of continuous intravenous epoprostenol (prostacyclin) with conventional therapy for primary pulmonary hypertension
- Author
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Barst, Robyn J., Rubin, Lewis J., Long, Walker A., McGoon, Michael D., Rich, Stuart, Badesch, David B., Groves, Bertron M., Tapson, Victor F., Bourge, Robert C., Brundage, Bruce H., Koerner, Spencer K., Langleben, David, Keller, Cesar A., Murali, Srinivas, Uretsky, Barry F., Clayton, Linda M., Jobsis, Maria M., Blackburn, Shelmer D., Shortino, Denise, and Crow, James W.
- Subjects
Pulmonary hypertension -- Drug therapy ,Prostacyclin -- Health aspects ,Vasodilators -- Health aspects - Abstract
Continuous intravenous infusion of epoprostenol along with conventional therapy appears to improve blood flow, exercise endurance, quality of life and survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension when compared to conventional therapy alone. The elevation of pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance in patients with the disease eventually results in heart failure and death. Epoprostenol (prostacyclin) is a vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Researchers compared 41 patients treated with epoprostenol plus conventional therapy to 40 treated with conventional therapy alone (the control group) over a 12-week period. Pulmonary artery pressure dropped 8% in the epoprostenol group but increased 3% in the control group. Vascular resistance decreased 21% with epoprostenol use and increased 9% without it. Eight patients in the control group died during the study as a result of their pulmonary vascular disease.
- Published
- 1996