Beneficial effect of an oral analog of prostacyclin on pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease

To determine whether a newly synthesized oral analog of prostacyclin, called beraprost sodium, could cause pulmonary vasodilation, we studied its hemodynamic effect on pulmonary hypertension of children, comparing it to other vasodilatory agents, such as nitric oxide and tolazoline. We studied 20 children (mean age 24 months) having pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease. A single oral dose of beraprost sodium resulted in an appreciable reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance (mean 34%), which was comparable to that induced by inhalation of nitric oxide and intravenous delivery of tolazoline (mean 41% and 31%, respectively). The results suggest that beraprost sodium may serve as a novel and safe vasodilator for the screening of pulmonary vasoreactivity, as well as the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in children.