Transition From Subcutaneous or Inhaled Treprostinil to Oral Treprostinil at Home in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Retrospective Case Series

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Ackerbauer ◽  
Rajive Tandon
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Common Adverse Event ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
World Health ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
At Home

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive condition that can lead to right ventricular failure and death. Treprostinil is a prostacyclin analogue that has proven clinical efficacy in patients with PAH. Difficulties in the administration of inhaled and parenteral prostacyclins led to the development of extended-release treprostinil diolamine for oral use. Limited data exist on the transition to oral treprostinil. The purpose of this case series is to describe the transition from subcutaneous or inhaled treprostinil to oral treprostinil in the outpatient setting. With the current availability of oral prostacyclins and prostacyclins analogues, most transitions to oral therapy are done in the hospital setting resulting in increased cost and risk of hospital-acquired infections. Four patients on background phosphodiesterase type 5 therapy with baseline World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) II PAH were transitioned at home. Three of the 4 patients were safely transitioned as outpatients and maintained WHO FC II status at 10 and 12 months. The fourth patient had worsening right heart failure and was admitted within 2 months of the transition and started back on parenteral prostacyclin therapy. The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) increased in patients transitioning from inhaled therapy and decreased in the patient transitioning from subcutaneous therapy. The most common adverse event was nausea.

scholarly journals Oral treprostinil in transition or as add-on therapy in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 204589401985647 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Dunbar Ivy ◽  
Jeffrey A. Feinstein ◽  
Delphine Yung ◽  
Mary P. Mullen ◽  
Edward C. Kirkpatrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
World Health ◽  
Walk Distance ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Health Organization

Treprostinil, a prostacyclin analogue, is approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults. Transition from parenteral to oral treprostinil has been successfully accomplished in adults with PAH but not in children. In this multicenter study, pediatric patients treated with parenteral (Cohort 1) or inhaled (Cohort 2) treprostinil were transitioned to oral treprostinil. Prostacyclin-naïve individuals on background oral PAH therapy received oral treprostinil as add-on therapy (Cohort 3). Successful transition was oral treprostinil dose maintenance through week 24. Patients were monitored for adverse events (AEs), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), PAH symptoms, World Health Organization (WHO) Functional Class (FC), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and quality of life through 24 weeks. A total of 32 patients were enrolled in the study; 23 (72%) were girls (mean age = 12.2 years). All patients were on background oral PAH therapy. Overall, patients (96.9%) maintained transition to oral treprostinil; one patient (Cohort 1) transitioned to oral treprostinil, then back to parenteral after experiencing syncope and WHO FC change from II to III. Cohorts 1, 2, and 3 received a final mean oral treprostinil dose of 5.6, 3.3, and 4.5 mg t.i.d., respectively. All cohorts had variable changes in 6MWD, cMRI, and CPET. Overall, 12 serious AEs were reported. All patients had drug-related AEs including headache (81%), diarrhea (69%), nausea (66%), vomiting (66%), and flushing (56%). Pediatric patients maintained transition to oral treprostinil with preservation of exercise capacity and WHO FC. Prostanoid-related AEs were most common and similar to those reported in adults.

scholarly journals Safety and efficacy of transitioning from the combination of bosentan and sildenafil to alternative therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 204589402094552
Author(s):  
Nathan J. Verlinden ◽  
Raymond L. Benza ◽  
Amresh Raina
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interaction ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
World Health ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Safety And Efficacy ◽  
Significant Drug Interaction ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

The combination of bosentan and sildenafil is commonly used to treat patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, there is evidence of a significant drug interaction between these two medications. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transitioning patients with PAH from the combination of bosentan and sildenafil to alternative therapy. A retrospective database review was performed on 16 patients with PAH who were treated with the combination of bosentan and sildenafil and transitioned to alternative treatment at our center. Invasive and non-invasive patient parameters were collected at baseline and after transition. 56.3% of patients were in World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) III and a majority of patients (68.7%) were on background prostacyclin therapy. The most common reason for transition was concern for a drug interaction in seven patients (43.8%). The most common transition was bosentan to macitentan in eight patients (50%). Fifteen patients (93.8%) tolerated the transition after a median follow-up of 6.5 months with minor adverse events occurring in four patients (25%). In 11 patients, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was unchanged comparing baseline to post transition measurements with a median change of +8 m (range: −50 to + 70; P = 0.39). Nine patients (81.8%) had stable (within 15% margin) or significant improvement (increase by ≥15%) in 6MWD after transition. All patients demonstrated stable or improved WHO FC after transition. There were no significant changes after transition in hemodynamics, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values, or Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) risk scores. In our study, transitioning patients from bosentan and sildenafil to alternative therapy was safe and resulted in clinical stability.

scholarly journals Transition from parental prostacyclin to selexipag: a case series of five pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 204589401986216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Holthaus ◽  
Kurt W. Prins ◽  
Lauren Rose ◽  
Sasha Prisco ◽  
Marc Pritzker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Cardiac Index ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Disease ◽  
Inpatient Setting ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Parental prostacyclin is the only therapy with a proven survival benefit in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, some patients are unable to tolerate continuous prostacyclin infusion because of central line infection, side effects, or sociocultural factors. Selexipag is a recently approved prostacyclin receptor agonist that is able to blunt PAH disease progression. Although in the same molecular pathway, the interchangeability of selexipag with prostacyclin infusions is relatively unexplored. Here, we present a case series of five stable PAH patients who were functional class (FC) I or II that were transitioned from prostacyclin infusion to selexipag using a standardized protocol in the inpatient setting. We show that the transition to selexipag in five highly selected patients was tolerated with no significant changes in FC, minimal changes in pulmonary vascular disease severity, and no significant PAH-related complications. However, there was a trend for a reduction in cardiac index after transition to selexipag. These data suggest that a transition from prostacyclin infusion to selexipag can be achieved in clinically stable PAH patients who are unable to tolerate continuous prostacyclin infusion. However, this approach should only be selectively implemented at specialized centers with close follow-up due to the trend for a reduction in cardiac index after transition to selexipag.

scholarly journals Epidemiology and initial management of pulmonary arterial hypertension: real-world data from the Hellenic pulmOnary hyPertension rEgistry (HOPE)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 204589401987715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Arvanitaki ◽  
Maria Boutsikou ◽  
Anastasia Anthi ◽  
Sotiria Apostolopoulou ◽  
Aikaterini Avgeropoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
World Health ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Treatment Data ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Health Organization

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a heterogenous clinical entity with poor prognosis, despite recent major pharmacological advances. To increase awareness about the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and management of the disease, large national registries are required. The Hellenic pulmOnary hyPertension rEgistry (HOPE) was launched in early 2015 and enrolls patients from all pulmonary hypertension subgroups in Greece. Baseline epidemiologic, diagnostic, and initial treatment data of consecutive patients with PAH are presented in this article. In total, 231 patients with PAH were enrolled from January 2015 until April 2018. At baseline, about half of patients with PAH were in World Health Organization functional class II. The majority of patients with PAH (56.7%) were at intermediate 1-year mortality risk, while more than one-third were low-risk patients, according to an abbreviated risk stratification score. Half of patients with PAH were on monotherapy, 38.9% received combination therapy, while prostanoids were used only in 12.1% of patients. In conclusion, baseline data of the Greek PAH population share common characteristics, but also have some differences with other registries, the most prominent being a better functional capacity. This may reflect earlier diagnosis of PAH that in conjunction with the increased proportion of patients with atypical PAH could partially explain the preference for monotherapy and the limited use of prostanoids in Greece. Nevertheless, early, advanced specific therapy is strongly recommended.

scholarly journals The Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale does not predict hospitalization in pulmonary arterial hypertension

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 384-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debasree Banerjee ◽  
Jane Kamuren ◽  
Grayson L. Baird ◽  
Amy Palmisciano ◽  
Ipsita Krishnan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Disease ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Minute Walk

Background Breathlessness is the most common symptom reported by patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (MBS) is routinely obtained during the six-minute walk test in the assessment of PAH patients, but it is not known whether the MBS predicts clinical outcomes such as hospitalizations in PAH. Methods We performed a retrospective study of World Health Organization (WHO) Group 1 PAH patients followed at our center. The dates of the first three MBS and hospitalizations that occurred within three months of a documented MBS were collected. Marginal Cox hazard regression modeling was used to assess for a relationship between MBS and all-cause as well as PAH-related hospitalization. Results A total of 50 patients were included; most (92%) were functional class III/IV, 44% and 65% were treatment-naïve prior to their first MBS and hospitalization, respectively. The first recorded MBS was inversely correlated with the first recorded six-minute walk distance (6MWD) (r = –0.41, P < 0.01) but did not track with WHO functional class (r = 0.07, P = 0.63). MBS did not predict all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–1.08; P = 0.28) or PAH-related hospitalization (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.89–1.23; P = 0.61), though there was a strong relationship between 6MWD and PAH-related hospitalization ( P = 0.01). These findings persisted after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions Breathlessness as assessed by MBS does not predict all-cause or PAH-related hospitalization. Robust and validated patient-reported outcomes are needed in pulmonary vascular disease.

scholarly journals Riociguat for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: a long-term extension study (PATENT-2)

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1303-1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis J. Rubin ◽  
Nazzareno Galiè ◽  
Friedrich Grimminger ◽  
Ekkehard Grünig ◽  
Marc Humbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Soluble Guanylate Cyclase ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
World Health ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Riociguat is a soluble, guanylate cyclase stimulator, approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension. In the 12-week PATENT-1 study, riociguat was well tolerated and improved several clinically relevant end-points in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who were treatment naïve or had been pretreated with endothelin-receptor antagonists or prostanoids. The PATENT-2 open-label extension evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of riociguat.Eligible patients from the PATENT-1 study received riociguat individually adjusted up to a maximum dose of 2.5 mg three times daily. The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of riociguat; exploratory efficacy assessments included 6-min walking distance and World Health Organization (WHO) functional class.Overall, 396 patients entered the PATENT-2 study and 324 (82%) were ongoing at this interim analysis (March 2013). The safety profile of riociguat in PATENT-2 was similar to that observed in PATENT-1, with cases of haemoptysis and pulmonary haemorrhage also being observed in PATENT-2. Improvements in the patients', 6-min walking distance and WHO functional class observed in PATENT-1 persisted for up to 1 year in PATENT-2. In the observed population at the 1-year time point, mean±sd 6-min walking distance had changed by 51±74 m and WHO functional class had improved in 33%, stabilised in 61% and worsened in 6% of the patients versus the PATENT-1 baseline.Long-term riociguat was well tolerated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and led to sustained improvements in exercise capacity and functional capacity for up to 1 year.

scholarly journals Favorable Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Well-Controlled Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Corbach ◽  
Charlotte Berlier ◽  
Mona Lichtblau ◽  
Esther I. Schwarz ◽  
Fiorenza Gautschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
Tertiary Referral Center ◽  
Right Heart Function ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Introduction: Since pregnancy in women with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality, it is recommended that pregnancy should be avoided in PAH. However, some women with mild PAH may consider this recommendation as unsuitable. Unfortunately knowledge on pregnancy outcomes and best management of PAH during pregnancy is limited.Methods: Data from all women with PAH who were followed during pregnancy by a multidisciplinary team at a tertiary referral center for PAH and who delivered between 2004 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed in a case series. PAH risk factor profiles including WHO functional class (WHO-FC), NT-pro-BNP, echocardiographic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and right heart function were analyzed prior to, during and following pregnancy.Results: In seven pregnancies of five women with PAH (median age 29 (27; 31) years), there were no abortions or terminations. Five pregnancies were planned (all in WHO-FC I-II), two incidental (WHO-FC II, III). During pregnancy none of the women had complications or clinical worsening of PAH. After a median pregnancy duration of 37 1/7 weeks all gave birth to healthy babies by cesarean section in spinal anesthesia. During pregnancy, PAP tended to increase, whilst the course of WHO-FC and NT-pro-BNP were variable and no trend could be detected.Conclusion: Women with PAH with a low risk profile closely followed by a multidisciplinary team had a favorable course during and after pregnancy, resulting in successful deliveries of healthy newborns.

scholarly journals A Review of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Treatment in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Series of Adult Patients

2022 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 107424842110690
Author(s):  
Heather Torbic ◽  
Benjamin Hohlfelder ◽  
Sudhir Krishnan ◽  
Adriano R. Tonelli
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Bridge To Transplant ◽  
Membrane Oxygenation ◽  
Drug Concentrations ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Va Ecmo

Background: Little data is published describing the use of medications prescribed for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Even though many patients with PAH may require ECMO as a bridge to transplant or recovery, little is reported regarding the use of PAH medications in this setting. Methods: This retrospective case series summarizes the clinical experience of 8 patients with PAH receiving ECMO and reviews medication management in the setting of ECMO. Results: Eight PAH patients, 5 of whom were female, ranging in age from 21 to 61 years old, were initiated on ECMO. Veno-arterial (VA) ECMO was used in 4 patients, veno-venous (VV) ECMO and hybrid ECMO configurations in 2 patients respectively. Common indications for ECMO included cardiogenic shock, bridge to transplant, and cardiac arrest. All patients were on intravenous (IV) prostacyclin therapy at baseline. Refractory hypotension was noted in 7 patients of whom 5 patients required downtitration or discontinuation of baseline PAH therapies. Three patients had continuous inhaled epoprostenol added during their time on ECMO. In patients who were decannulated from ECMO, PAH therapies were typically resumed or titrated back to baseline dosages. One patient required no adjustment in PAH therapy while on ECMO. Two patients were not able to be decannulated from ECMO. Conclusion: The treatment of critically ill PAH patients is challenging given a variety of factors that could affect PAH drug concentrations. In particular, PAH patients on prostacyclin analogues placed on VA ECMO appear to have pronounced systemic vasodilation requiring vasopressors which is alleviated by temporarily reducing the intravenous prostacyclin dose. Patients should be closely monitored for potential need for rapid titrations in prostacyclin therapy to maintain hemodynamic stability.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document