• Qin Luo, Qi Jin, Zhihui Zhao, Qing Zhao, Xue Yu, Lu Yan, Yi Zhang, Changming Xiong, and Zhihong Liu.
• Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China.
• BMC Pulm Med. 2019 Dec 19; 19 (1): 257.

BackgroundPulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare condition with poor prognosis, and lung transplantation is recommended as the only curative therapy. The role of pulmonary arterial hypertension targeted therapy in PVOD remains controversial, and long-term effects of targeted therapy have been rarely reported. This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the role of targeted therapy in PVOD patients and the long-term outcome.MethodsPVOD patients with good responses to targeted therapies were analyzed, and data pre- and post- targeted therapies were compared. An overview of the effects of targeted therapies on PVOD patients was also conducted.ResultsFive genetically or histologically confirmed PVOD patients received targeted therapies and showed good responses. Their mean pulmonary arterial pressure by right heart catheterization was 62.0 ± 11.7 mmHg. Two receiving monotherapy got stabilized, and three receiving sequential combination therapy got improved, cardiac function and exercise capacity significantly improved after treatments. No pulmonary edema occurred. The mean time from the first targeted therapy to the last follow up was 39.3 months, and the longest was 9 years. A systematic review regarding the effects of targeted therapies on PVOD patients indicated majorities of patients got hemodynamics or 6-min walk distance improved, and 26.7% patients developed pulmonary edema. The interval from targeted drugs use to death ranged from 71 min to over 4 years.ConclusionsCautious use of targeted therapy could safely and effectively improve or stabilize hemodynamics and exercise capacity of some patients without any complications. PVOD patients could live longer than expected.

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