American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Jan 2008
The role of treprostinil in the management of pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severely disabling disorder characterized by sustained elevations of pulmonary vascular resistance, ultimately leading to right-heart failure and death. Intravenous epoprostenol has been widely used in patients with PAH, leading to long-term clinical benefits and improved survival. Epoprostenol has to be delivered through a permanently implanted intravenous catheter, with the potential of life-threatening complications. ⋯ The dose of intravenous treprostinil has to be adjusted to approximately twice the dose of intravenous epoprostenol. Most patients have reported less severe adverse effects with intravenous treprostinil compared with intravenous epoprostenol. The assessment of the long-term efficacy and safety of continuous intravenous treprostinil requires further studies.