Rev Esp Cardiol
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Comparative Study
[Efficacy of oral sildenafil as rescue therapy in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension chronically treated with prostacyclin. Long-term results].
Prostacyclin therapy is an effective treatment for severe pulmonary hypertension. Sildenafil, a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, induces selective vasodilatation of the pulmonary vessels. A synergistic effect has been described for these two drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sildenafil as rescue therapy in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension on chronic treatment with prostacyclin whose clinical or functional course was unsatisfactory. ⋯ The addition of oral sildenafil to chronic prostacyclin treatment in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension improved functional capacity and reduced episodes of decompensated right heart failure, with good tolerance and no significant adverse effects.