Why the study?
Can intravenous epoprostenol be successfully withdrawn in carefully selected patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension?
Can intravenous epoprostenol be successfully withdrawn in carefully selected patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension?
Intravenous epoprostenol, traditionally considered an indefinite therapy, may be successfully withdrawn in carefully selected patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Supports epoprostenol withdrawal consideration in select IPAH cases; leaves open need for prospective validation before practice change.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare and devastating disease characterized by vascular proliferation and remodeling. Epoprostenol, the drug counterpart of the eicosanoid prostacyclin, produced by the vascular endothelial cells, is the drug of choice for this disease. Its capacity to act rapidly and to significantly improve survival prospects in severe pulmonary hypertension patients has been supported by a wealth of evidence. Intravenous epoprostenol was believed to require therapy of indefinite duration. Since 2001, oral drugs have been approved for specific treatment. The availability of newer and less invasive drug therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension led physicians to withdraw epoprostenol in carefully selected patients. We report a case of successful intravenous epoprostenol interruption in a patient with idiopathic disease. A literature review on epoprostenol withdrawal in pulmonary hypertension in adult patients is also provided.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Demerouti et al. (2012) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: