Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Apr 2001
[Inhalation of a prostacyclin analog (iloprost) in primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension].
Vasodilative therapy in the form of calcium channel blockers and, recently, continuous intravenous prostacyclin has improved exercise capacity and reduced mortality in primary pulmonary hypertension. Their clinical value is limited by either low rate of response or serious side effects. These shortcomings could be overcome by the use of iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analogue. Administering it by inhalation, we assessed its short-term efficacy in patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ Drug testing with inhalation of iloprost is safe and causes beneficial haemodynamic changes with selective pulmonary vasodilatation. Since the long-term effect of medical intervention is based on the degree of acute pulmonary vascular reactivity, inhalation of iloprost may be a new therapeutic option for severe pulmonary hypertension.