Safety Recommendations for Administering Intravenous Prostacyclins in the Hospital

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 32-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha S. Kingman ◽  
Kelly Chin

Prostacyclins are a high-risk category of continuous intravenous infusions increasingly used in hospitals to treat advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare condition characterized by vasoconstriction and vascular proliferation of the pulmonary arteries. Prostacyclins are given in doses of nanograms per kilogram per minute and have a narrow therapeutic dosing range for each patient. Sudden increases or decreases in dose can be life threatening. Previous studies revealed errors in the administration of these high-risk infusions, which in some instances led to serious adverse events, including death. The literature was reviewed for safety measures in administration of high-risk intravenous medications and input was obtained from leading experts in pulmonary arterial hypertension to create a set of safety recommendations for infusion of prostacyclins.

ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 2524-2527
Author(s):  
Carlos Jardim ◽  
Luciana K. Morinaga ◽  
Rogério Souza

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare condition characterized by the progressive remodelling of the small pulmonary arteries, increasing right ventricular afterload and consequent failure, in the absence of an identifiable baseline condition or trigger factor. For this, an extensive diagnostic investigation is mandatory, together with invasive haemodynamic measurement, in order to ensure the elevation in the pulmonary artery pressure is associated with a pre-capillary pattern. Three main pathways have been associated with the pathophysiology of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: the endothelin, nitric oxide, and prostacyclin pathways. The development of specific therapies targeting these pathways has significantly improved survival in the last two decades. Although the disease remains as a relentlessly progressive condition, this improvement in survival was also accompanied by better functional capacity and quality of life, thus completely changing the daily life of patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 204589402198996
Author(s):  
Kothandam Sivakumar ◽  
Gopalavilasam R. Rohitraj ◽  
Monica Rajendran ◽  
Nithya Thivianathan

Optimal sized balloon atrial septostomy improves hemodynamics in advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension. Occlutech Atrial Flow Regulator is designed to provide an atrial septal fenestration diameter titrated according to the age and right atrial pressures. This observational study analyzed symptoms, exercise distance, oxygen saturations, hemodynamics and echocardiographic parameters after Atrial Flow Regulator implantation in patients with syncope or right-heart failure. Patients with high-risk predictors of mortality during septostomy were scrutinized. Thirty-nine patients (9 children) with syncope (34/39) or right-heart failure (27/39) underwent Atrial Flow Regulator implantation without procedural complications. Six-minute walk distance increased from 310 ± 158.2 to 376.4 ± 182.6 m, none developed syncope. Oxygen saturations reduced from 96.4 ± 6.4% to 92 ± 4.9% at rest and further to 80.3 ± 5.9% on exercise. Right atrial pressures reduced from 9.4 ± 5 (2–27) mmHg to 6.9 ± 2.6 (1–12) mmHg, while cardiac index increased from 2.4 ± 0.8 (0.98–4.3) to 3 ± 1 (1.1–5.3) L/min/m2 and systemic oxygen transport increased from 546.1 ± 157.9 (256.2–910.5) to 637.2 ± 191.1 (301.3–1020.2) ml/min. Echocardiographic improvement included significant reduction of pericardial effusion and inferior caval congestion at a median follow-up of 37 months. Overall survival improved except two early and one late deaths in high-risk patients. Five of seven patients with advanced disease and key hemodynamic predictors of mortality survived. Acute hemodynamic benefits in pulmonary arterial hypertension after Atrial Flow Regulator were improved cardiac output, systemic oxygen transport, and reduced right atrial pressures. Improvement of symptoms especially syncope, exercise duration, and right ventricular systolic function as well as device patency were sustained on mid-term follow-up. Implantation was safe in all including young children without procedural complications. Mortality was noted only in patients who had high-risk predictors and patients at advanced stage of the disease.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-230
Author(s):  
Yon K. Sung ◽  
Roham T. Zamanian ◽  
Catriona A. Wagner ◽  
William Robinson ◽  
Virginia Steen ◽  
...  

Introduction Non-invasive biomarkers are needed to identify pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients who may benefit from early intervention. We sought to identify novel cytokines that differentiate patients with incident SSc-PAH from those at high risk for PAH. Methods The Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma (PHAROS) Registry is a multicenter registry of SSc patients at high risk for PAH (at-risk) or with incident right-heart catheterization-confirmed PAH (definite PAH). Serum from 10 at-risk and 9 definite PAH patients were profiled with Bio-PlexTM bead arrays for 48 cytokines and chemokines. We also evaluated the longitudinal change in cytokine profiles from 3 at-risk patients who subsequently developed definite PAH. Results Clinical features of at-risk versus definite PAH patients were not significantly different except for right-ventricular systolic pressure on echocardiogram (34 ± 7 vs. 45 ± 8 mmHg, p = 0.006), left atrial diameter (2.9 ± 0.5 vs. 3.7 ± 0.4 cm, p = 0.02), 6-minute walk distance (508 ± 115 vs. 393 ± 70 m, p = 0.02), mean pulmonary artery pressure (18 ± 4 vs. 32 ± 6 mmHg, p = 0.01), and pulmonary vascular resistance (111 ± 48 vs. 272 ± 109 dyn/s/cm5, p = 0.009). Serum cytokine profiling identified hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as the only cytokine significantly different between the at-risk and definite PAH groups (225.8 ± 55.0 vs. 361.6 ± 164.5 pg/mL, q<0.1%). Profiling of longitudinal samples of at-risk to definite PAH patients did not identify any significant changes in HGF or other cytokines over time. Conclusions Definite PAH patients expressed higher levels of HGF than at-risk patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the utility of HGF as a predictive biomarker for SSc-PAH.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1702638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna R. Hemnes ◽  
Anandharajan Rathinasabapathy ◽  
Eric A. Austin ◽  
Evan L. Brittain ◽  
Erica J. Carrier ◽  
...  

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a deadly disease with no cure. Alternate conversion of angiotensin II (AngII) to angiotensin-(1–7) (Ang-(1–7)) by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) resulting in Mas receptor (Mas1) activation improves rodent models of PAH. Effects of recombinant human (rh) ACE2 in human PAH are unknown. Our objective was to determine the effects of rhACE2 in PAH.We defined the molecular effects of Mas1 activation using porcine pulmonary arteries, measured AngII/Ang-(1–7) levels in human PAH and conducted a phase IIa, open-label pilot study of a single infusion of rhACE2 (GSK2586881, 0.2 or 0.4 mg·kg−1 intravenously).Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and inflammatory gene expression were identified as markers of Mas1 activation. After confirming reduced plasma ACE2 activity in human PAH, five patients were enrolled in the trial. GSK2586881 was well tolerated with significant improvement in cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance. GSK2586881 infusion was associated with reduced plasma markers of inflammation within 2–4 h and increased SOD2 plasma protein at 2 weeks.PAH is characterised by reduced ACE2 activity. Augmentation of ACE2 in a pilot study was well tolerated, associated with improved pulmonary haemodynamics and reduced markers of oxidant and inflammatory mediators. Targeting this pathway may be beneficial in human PAH.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopinath Sutendra ◽  
Sebastien Bonnet ◽  
Paulette Wright ◽  
Peter Dromparis ◽  
Alois Haromy ◽  
...  

Nogo was first identified as an inhibitor of neuronal axonal regeneration. Recently, Nogo-B was implicated in the proliferative and anti-apoptotic remodeling in systemic arteries; reduced Nogo-B expression was seen in remodeled mouse femoral arteries following injury. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is also characterized by proliferative/anti-apoptotic remodeling in pulmonary arteries (PA), sparing systemic vessels. PAH PA smooth muscle cells (PASMC) are characterized by mitochondrial hyperpolarization (increased ΔΨm), decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (suppressing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis), down-regulation of Kv1.5 and activation of the transcription factor NFAT (promoting contraction and proliferation). We found that in contrast to systemic vessels, Nogo-B expression is significantly increased in vivo and in vitro in PAs and PASMCs from patients (n=6) and mice (n=42) with PAH, compared to normals. We hypothesized that Nogo is involved in the pathogenesis of PAH . Nogo −/− mice (n=7) had a normal phenotype and, in contrast to Nogo +/+ , did not develop chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced PAH assessed invasively (catheterization, RV/LV+Septum) and non-invasively (pulmonary artery acceleration time and treadmill performance) (n=7, Table ). CH- Nogo +/+ PASMC had the expected increase in ΔΨm (measured by TMRM), decreased ROS (MitoSOX), increased [Ca ++ ] i (FLUO3), decreased Kv1.5 (immunohistochemistry) and NFAT activation (nuclear translocation). None of these changes occurred in CH- Nogo −/− PASMC while all were induced in normoxic Nogo +/+ PASMC by adenoviral over-expression of Nogo-B . Heterozygote CH- Nogo +/− (n=7) values were between Nogo −/− and Nogo +/+ suggesting a gene dose-dependent effect. Nogo is over-expressed in human and rodent PAH and induces critical features of the PAH phenotype. Nogo targeting might represent a novel and selective therapeutic strategy for PAH. Table


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenzo Ichimura ◽  
Tetsuya Matoba ◽  
Ryoji Nagahama ◽  
Kaku Nakano ◽  
Kenji Sunagawa ◽  
...  

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an intractable disease of small pulmonary artery in which multiple pathogenetic factors are involved. We have previously reported that poly(lactic acid/glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle (NP)-mediated targeting of pitavastatin into lungs by intratracheal instillation attenuated the development of PAH. In the present study we examined the effects of intravenous treatment with pitavastatin-NPs on the progression of already established PAH induced by monocrotaline (MCT). Methods and Results: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200 to 230 g) were injected subcutaneously with 60 mg/kg MCT to induce PAH. At day 17 after MCT injection when PAH had been already established, animals were randomly divided into 4 groups, which treated with intravenous daily bolus administration of the following drugs for consecutive 4 days from 17 to 20 days after MCT injection; 1) vehicle, 2) FITC-NPs, 3) pitavastatin alone (1, 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg), or 4) pitavastatin-NPs (containing 1 or 3 mg/kg pitavastatin). Treatment with pitavastatin-NPs, but not with pitavastatin alone attenuated the progression of established PAH (Fig. A) associated with the reduction of inflammation and small pulmonary artery remodeling (stenosis and obstruction of pulmonary arterial branches) (Fig. B). In trace experiments, intravenous administration of FITC-NPs revealed the targeting of FITC-NPs into small pulmonary artery in rats with MCT-induced PAH, but not in normal animals. Importantly, in a separate protocol, treatment with pitavastatin-NPs improved the survival rate at day 35 (30% in pitavastatin-NP group vs. 61% in FITC-NP group, P<0.05 by Kaplan-Meier). Conclusion: A novel NP-mediated targeting of pitavastatin into small pulmonary arteries by intravenous administration attenuated the progression of established PAH and improved survival associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects in a rat model of MCT-induced PAH.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Zuffa ◽  
F Dardi ◽  
M Palazzini ◽  
E Gotti ◽  
A Rinaldi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Current pulmonary hypertension (PH) guidelines stratify the risk of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) using a multiparametric approach. Anyway, the role of unmodifiable risk factors is not taken into account. Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of unmodifiable risk factors (age, gender, PAH aetiology) in PAH risk stratification using the recently proposed simplified risk table and to test if these factors influence the response to PAH-specific treatment. Methods All patients with PAH referred to a single centre were included from 2003 to 2017. We applied a simplified risk assessment strategy using the following criteria: WHO functional class, 6-min walking distance, right atrial pressure or brain natriuretic peptide plasma levels and cardiac index (CI) or mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2). The last 2 criteria were based on which parameter was available; if both were available the worst was chosen. Risk strata were defined as: Low risk= at least 3 low risk and no high-risk criteria; High risk= at least 2 high risk criteria including CI or SvO2; Intermediate risk= definitions of low or high risk not fulfilled. Then we performed multivariate Cox analysis to evaluate what are the independent predictors of survival (age, gender, PAH aetiology together with the recently proposed simplified PAH risk table) and we tested if these factors influence the response to PAH specific therapy comparing the % improvement of hemodynamic parameters from baseline to 3–4 months after starting treatment. Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used for comparisons. Results Six hundreds and twenty-one treatment-naïve patients were enrolled. Age [HR (95% CI) = 1.022 (1.014–1.030); p-value <0.001], male gender [HR (95% CI) = 1.881 (1.479–2.392); p-value <0.001] and connective tissue disease (CTD)-PAH aetiology [HR (95% CI)= 2.278 (1.733–2.995); p-value <0.001] were all independent predictors of prognosis in patients with PAH together with the recently validated simplified PAH risk table [HR (95% CI) = 2.161 (1.783–2.618); p-value <0.001] but they didn't significantly influence the response to PAH specific treatment as shown in the Figure. Figure 1 Conclusions Age, gender and CTD-PAH aetiology significantly influence prognosis together with the recently validated simplified PAH risk table but don't significantly influence the response to PAH-specific treatment. Acknowledgement/Funding None


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Bossone ◽  
Rodolfo Citro ◽  
Alberto Ruggiero ◽  
Bettina Kuersten ◽  
Giovanni Gregorio ◽  
...  

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is an heterogeneous condition brought on by a wide range of causes. It is characterized by structural changes in small pulmonary arteries, that produce a progressive increase in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, ultimately leading to right ventricle failure and death. Given the non-specific nature of its early symptoms and signs, PAH is often diagnosed in its advanced stages. Along with a careful clinical assessment and an accurate electrocardiogram/Chest X-ray interpretation, echocardiography is an essential test in the evaluation of patient with PAH. In fact it not only provides an accurate estimate of pulmonary pressure at rest and during exercise, but may also help to exclude any secondary causes, predict the prognosis, monitor the efficacy of specific therapeutic interventions and detect the preclinical stage of the disease.


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