Inhaled iloprost plus oral sildenafil in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension delays the need for lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Accepted treatment for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) includes intravenous epoprostenol and lung transplantation (LT). Inhaled iloprost plus oral sildenafil (Ilo-Sil) is an alternative strategy that may also delay the need for LT.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This was a long-term descriptive study in eight patients with PAH functional class (FC) IV with right heart failure, four of them potential candidates for LT, who were treated with Ilo-Sil as an alternative to epoprostenol.

RESULTS

At the start of the study, patients (seven women; mean age, 43.8 [range, 34-66] years) were in FC IV and unable to perform the 6-minute walk test. Mean cardiac index was 1.9 (range, 1.4-2.1) L/min/m(2). Treatment with Ilo-Sil provoked a rapid and sustained improvement; mean walking distance at 3 months was 322 ± 90 m and no patient remained in FC IV. Survival at 1 and 5 years was 100% and 75%, respectively. Of the four potential LT candidates, one underwent transplantation after 6.8 years and one died after 1.2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that therapy with Ilo-Sil represents an acceptable alternative in patients with severe and unstable PAH.