The limits of oral therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension management

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease in which remodeling of the small pulmonary arteries leads to a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and right-sided heart failure. Over the past decade, new treatments for PAH, such as the use of ERAs, PDE-5 inhibitors and prostacyclin analogs, have brought about dramatic improvements in clinical outcomes. Epoprostenol infusion therapy has been shown to improve hemodynamics, functional status, and survival, and it remains the gold standard for treatment of patients with severe PAH. Many agents, approved for PAH are always delivered in pill form. Although oral therapy occupies an important position, it has some drawbacks and limitations in PAH management. For patients in World Health Organization functional class IV and with severe right heart failure, there are few data on the long-term survival of patients treated with oral medications. Further research, exploration, and clinical experience with oral therapy in severe PAH and combination therapy will redefine its position in PAH management.

Keywords:

• pulmonary arterial hypertension
• right heart failure
• oral therapy
• survival

Disclosure

Z-C Jing serves as a consultant and scientific advisor to Actelion, Bayer Schering, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and United Therapeutics, in addition to being an investigator in trials sponsored by these companies. Q-Q Liu declares no conflict of interest.