• Nazzareno Galiè, Marc Humbert, Jean-Luc Vachiéry, Carmine Dario Vizza, Meinhard Kneussl, Alessandra Manes, Olivier Sitbon, Adam Torbicki, Marion Delcroix, Robert Naeije, Marius Hoeper, Ari Chaouat, Sophie Morand, Bruno Besse, Gerald Simonneau, and Arterial Pulmonary Hypertension and Beraprost European (ALPHABET) Study Group.
• Institute of Cardiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. n.galie@bo.nettuno.it
• J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2002 May 1;39(9):1496-502.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of beraprost sodium, an orally active prostacyclin analogue, in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II and III patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).BackgroundPulmonary arterial hypertension is a life-threatening disease for which continuous intravenous infusion of prostacyclin has been proven effective. However, this treatment is associated with serious complications arising from the complex delivery system.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 130 patients with PAH were randomized to the maximal tolerated dose of beraprost (median dose 80 microg four times a day) or to placebo for 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change in exercise capacity assessed by the 6-min walk test. Secondary end points included changes in Borg dyspnea index, cardiopulmonary hemodynamics and NYHA functional class.ResultsPatients treated with beraprost improved exercise capacity and symptoms. The difference between treatment groups in the mean change of 6-min walking distance at week 12 was 25.1 m (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8 to 48.3, p = 0.036). The difference in the mean change of Borg dyspnea index was -0.94 (95% CI: -1.63 to -0.24, p = 0.009). In the sub-group of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, the difference in the mean change of 6-min walking distance was 46.1 m (95% CI: 3.0 to 89.3, p = 0.035). Cardiopulmonary hemodynamics and NYHA functional class had no statistically significant changes. Drug-related adverse events were common in the titration phase and decreased in the maintenance period.ConclusionsBeraprost improves exercise capacity and symptoms in NYHA functional class II and III patients with PAH and, in particular, in those with primary pulmonary hypertension.

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