Bosentan

Abstract

Importance to the field: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a morbid condition with high mortality if left untreated. Bosentan is an effective treatment option for group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension. Bosentan improves exercise tolerance and functional class and delays the time to clinical worsening in these patients. Investigation is ongoing to determine its efficacy in other groups of pulmonary hypertension.

Areas covered in this review: This review provides a background on endothelin activity in PAH, as a rationale for the use of bosentan in this disease. It also presents evidence from key clinical trials of bosentan and discusses future directions in the study of bosentan to help the clinician better understand the role of bosentan in PAH management.

What the reader will gain: i) An understanding of the rationale for using endothelin receptor antagonists in treating PAH; ii) an understanding of the clinical evidence to support bosentan for the treatment of PAH; and iii) an understanding of how to use bosentan optimally in the treatment of PAH.

Take home message: Bosentan is an effective and safe treatment for patients with PAH. Patients with suspected PAH should be evaluated carefully as the use of bosentan in non-group 1 pulmonary hypertension is still being investigated. Patients on bosentan should be monitored with monthly liver transaminase testing. Coadministration with other drugs should be reviewed carefully as drug–drug interactions may be important.

Keywords::

• bosentan
• endothelin
• heart failure
• pulmonary hypertension