A Comparison of Continuous Intravenous Epoprostenol (Prostacyclin) with Conventional Therapy for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a disease characterized by the progressive elevation of pulmonary-artery pressure and vascular resistance, ultimately producing right ventricular failure and death. 1 – 3 A variety of treatments have been used, including vasodilators, 4 – 7 anticoagulant agents, 6 , 8 and lung or heart–lung transplantation, 9 – 13 but none have resulted in improved survival in a prospective, randomized trial. Epoprostenol (formerly called prostacyclin or prostaglandin I 2 ) is a potent, short-acting vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation that is produced by vascular endothelium. Short-term infusions of epoprostenol decrease pulmonary vascular resistance in a dose-dependent manner in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, and . . .