The Effect of High Doses of Calcium-Channel Blockers on Survival in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

PRIMARY pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon disease that is progressive and incurable. 1 , 2 The recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) Registry on Primary Pulmonary Hypertension documented a median survival of 2.8 years after the diagnosis. 3 In the 1980s interest in the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension focused on vasodilator drugs and anticoagulant therapy. 4 , 5 Although there are numerous descriptions of the short-term hemodynamic effects of many vasodilator drugs, reports documenting long-term effectiveness have been scarce. Anticoagulants have been recommended, but their long-term effectiveness also remains in question. 6 7 8 In 1987 Rich and Brundage conducted a preliminary study of the use of high doses . . .