Rapid transition from oral selexipag to parenteral treprostinil in a patient with mixed-etiology pulmonary hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (15) ◽  
pp. 1208-1212
Author(s):  
John J Radosevich ◽  
Audra DeChristopher ◽  
Maykel Irandost ◽  
Jade Fann ◽  
Jeremy Feldman

Abstract Purpose Selexipag is an oral nonprostanoid IP prostacyclin receptor agonist that is indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In patients with continued symptoms of PAH despite maximized oral therapy with selexipag and other oral therapies, a transition to parenteral prostacyclin may be warranted. There is a paucity of data regarding how to safely transition from oral selexipag to parenteral treprostinil. We describe rapid transition from oral selexipag to parenteral treprostinil in this case report. Summary A 65-year-old female with mixed-etiology PAH as result of pulmonary fibrosis related to polymyositis was admitted to the intensive care unit to be transitioned from selexipag to treprostinil due to dyspnea at rest despite therapy with selexipag 1,600 mg twice daily and macitentan 10 mg daily for 3 years. At baseline the patient required oxygen support (4 L/min) at rest to maintain oxygen saturation at or above 90%. Right heart catheterization performed 8 weeks prior to admission revealed severe PAH, with a pulmonary arterial pressure of 73/27 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance of 10 Wood units. On the day of admission the patient was given selexipag 800 µg at 9 am and simultaneously started on intravenous (i.v.) treprostinil at a dose of 2 ng/kg/min. The treprostinil dose was increased by 2 ng/kg/min every 3 hours until a target dose of 22 ng/kg/min was achieved, at which point the patient had experienced dyspnea improvement. She experienced a mild headache and flushing during rapid treprostinil dose escalation. After 30 hours of i.v. treprostinil infusion, the patient was transitioned to subcutaneous treprostinil therapy and discharged. Conclusion In this case the patient was rapidly transitioned from oral selexipag to i.v. and then subcutaneous treprostinil therapy over a 30-hour period, with minimal adverse effects.

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (1) ◽  
pp. H8-H15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter C. Champion ◽  
Douglas J. Villnave ◽  
Allen Tower ◽  
Philip J. Kadowitz ◽  
Albert L. Hyman

The present study employed a new right-heart catheterization technique to measure pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance in anesthetized intact-chest, spontaneously breathing mice. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a specially designed catheter was inserted via the right jugular vein and advanced to the main pulmonary artery. Cardiac output was determined by the thermodilution technique, and measured parameters were stable for periods of ≤3 h. Pressure-flow curves in vivo were curvilinear, with mean pulmonary arterial pressure increasing more rapidly at low pulmonary blood flows of 5–10 ml/min and less rapidly at higher blood flow rates. The pressure-flow relationship was shifted to the left by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) at higher blood flow levels, whereas the cyclooxygenase inhibitor sodium meclofenamate was without effect. The increase in pulmonary arterial pressure in response to acute hypoxia (fractional inspired O2 10%) was augmented byl-NAME but unaltered by sodium meclofenamate. The present results demonstrate that the right-heart catheterization technique can be used to measure pulmonary vascular pressures and responses in the mouse. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a right-heart catheterization technique to measure pulmonary vascular pressures and responses in the intact-chest, spontaneously breathing mouse and should prove useful for the investigation of pulmonary vascular responses in transgenic mice.


Author(s):  
Lin Xue ◽  
Yicheng Yang ◽  
Bo Sun ◽  
Bingyang Liu ◽  
Qixian Zeng ◽  
...  

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) ≥25 mm Hg measured by right heart catheterization. However, the upper limit of a normal mean PAP is 20 mm Hg. There is a gap between the upper limit of normal and the threshold for diagnosing PH. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether individuals with a mildly elevated PAP, defined as 20 mm Hg < mean PAP <25 mm Hg, are at an increased risk of progression to PH or mortality than those with a normal PAP. Methods and Results We reviewed studies evaluating the risk of progression to PH and/or mortality in individuals with a mildly elevated PAP versus those with a normal PAP. The mean PAP value of each participant was confirmed by right heart catheterization. We reviewed 1213 studies and 8 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Our results indicated that individuals with a mildly elevated PAP were 1.81 to 2.45 times more likely to progress to PH than individuals with a normal PAP. There was a statistically significant difference in mortality between the mildly elevated PAP and normal PAP groups (hazard ratio, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.69–3.64). We also pooled survival probabilities in each arm to obtain a summary survival curve for each group, and the pooled survival rates in the mildly elevated PAP group were numerically lower than those in the normal PAP group. Conclusions Our study revealed that individuals with a mildly elevated PAP were at an increased risk of progression to PH and mortality than those with a normal PAP.


Author(s):  
Preeyaporn Sarangarm ◽  
Kirsten Elwood

Abstract Purpose Epoprostenol and treprostinil are prostacyclins indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although there is literature describing the conversion of intravenous (IV) epoprostenol to IV treprostinil or IV treprostinil to oral treprostinil, there is little data on the direct conversion of IV epoprostenol to oral treprostinil. In this case, we describe the direct conversion of IV epoprostenol to oral treprostinil without an intermediary conversion to IV treprostinil. Summary A 39 year-old female with PAH was admitted for altered mental status and self-removal of her peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) used for IV epoprostenol. Given the unplanned hospitalization, absence of a dedicated central line for IV prostacyclin therapy, and concern the patient may remove a future subcutaneous line, the patient was transitioned to oral treprostinil. Of note, despite triple PAH therapy, the patient was unable to reach a low risk group based on her prognostic risk assessment. A right heart catheterization four months prior found severe PAH with a pulmonary arterial pressure of 79/32 mmHg (mean, 49 mmHg) and pulmonary vascular resistance of 10.6 Wood units. To expedite the transition, the patient was directly converted from IV epoprostenol to oral treprostinil without an intermediary conversion to IV treprostinil. A target oral treprostinil dose of 5 mg TID was calculated based on 110% of the IV epoprostenol dose (19 ng/kg/min) utilizing the conversion recommended by the medication manufacturer. Every 8 hours, IV epoprostenol was decreased by 2 ng/kg/min and oral treprostinil was increased by 0.5 mg. The target oral treprostinil dose of 5 mg TID was reached 72 hours after conversion initiation. Three hours after the final titration, the patient was discharged home on room air. Conclusion In this case, rapid transition from IV epoprostenol to oral treprostinil was achieved in 72 hours without reported adverse effects.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1961 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-626
Author(s):  
Robert E. Stanton ◽  
Donald C. Fyler

The natural history of the pulmonary arterial pressure in 23 children with isolated ventricular septal defects has been evaluated by serial night heart catheterization. In none of the 23 patients was there a significant increase in pulmonary arterial pressure. Eight patients showed a significant decrease. The direction of shunts did not change between procedures, and the clinical status was stable. Our experience correlated well with the majority of institutions. It would appear that the natural course of pulmonary arterial pressure in ventricular septal defect is not commonly one of progressive rise.


ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 2507-2511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Calderaro ◽  
Luis Felipe Prada ◽  
Rogério Souza

The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) relies on the haemodynamic criterion of mean pulmonary arterial pressure greater than or equal to 25 mmHg, assessed by right heart catheterization. The scope of this chapter is to discuss the key elements of clinical assessment of PH patients and the decision process to indicate right heart catheterization. Investigation must get through all the possible causes of PH according to their probability and frequency in the population. Echocardiography is the most important non-invasive test as an indicator for further diagnostic evaluation. Patients who are eligible for right heart catheterization should always be referred to PH centres, where technical skills and standardized procedures will enable maximal reliability of haemodynamic measurement. In the reference centre, a multidisciplinary team will discuss clinical and haemodynamic data, to propose the best therapeutic and follow-up schedule.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 204589402094878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanza N. Qaiser ◽  
James E Lane ◽  
Adriano R. Tonelli

Right heart catheterization is an essential diagnostic modality in the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in deferral of elective procedures including right heart catheterization. The benefits of proceeding with right heart catheterization, such as further characterization of hemodynamic subtype and severity of pulmonary hypertension, initiation of targeted pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy, as well as further hemodynamic testing, need to be carefully balanced with the risk of potentially exposing both patients and health care personnel to coronavirus disease 2019 infection. This review article aims to provide best clinical practices for safely performing right heart catheterization in pulmonary hypertension patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Pierre Sibomana ◽  
Aloma Campeche ◽  
Roberto J. Carvalho-Filho ◽  
Ricardo Amorim Correa ◽  
Helena Duani ◽  
...  

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease of the lung blood vessels that results in right heart failure. PAH is thought to occur in about 5% to 10% of patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, particularly due to S. mansoni. The lung blood vessel injury may result from a combination of embolization of eggs through portocaval shunts into the lungs causing localized Type 2 inflammatory response and vessel remodeling, triggering of autonomous pathology that becomes independent of the antigen, and high cardiac output as seen in portopulmonary hypertension. The condition is likely underdiagnosed as there is little systematic screening, and risk factors for developing PAH are not known. Screening is done by echocardiography, and formal diagnosis requires invasive right heart catheterization. Patients with Schistosoma-associated PAH show reduced functional capacity and can be treated with pulmonary vasodilators, which improves symptoms and may improve survival. There are animal models of this disease that might help in understanding disease pathogenesis and identify novel targets to screen and treatment. Pathogenic mechanisms include Type 2 immunity and activation and signaling in the TGF-β pathway. There are still major uncertainties regarding Schistosoma-associated PAH development, course and treatment.


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