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Exercise capacity and haemodynamics in patients with sickle cell disease with pulmonary hypertension treated with bosentan: results of the ASSET studies.

Author(s): Barst RJ, Mubarak KK, Machado RF, Ataga KI, Benza RL, Castro O, Naeije R, Sood N, Swerdlow PS, Hildesheim M, Gladwin MT, ASSET study group*

Affiliation(s): Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. robyn.barst@gmail.com

Publication date & source: 2010-05, Br J Haematol., 149(3):426-35. Epub 2010 Feb 17.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Doppler-defined pulmonary hypertension (PH) in sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with 40% mortality at 40 months. To assess the effect of bosentan in SCD-PH, two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 16-week studies were initiated. Safety concerns are particularly relevant in SCD due to comorbid conditions. ASSET-1 and -2 enrolled patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary venous hypertension (PH), respectively. Haemodynamics and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) were obtained at baseline and week 16. The studies were terminated due to slow site initiation and patient enrolment (n = 26). Bosentan appeared to be well tolerated. Although sample sizes were limited, in ASSET-1 at baseline, 6MWD correlated with cardiac output (CO; P = 0.006) with non-significant inverse correlations between 6MWD and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR; P = 0.07) and between 6MWD and right atrial pressure (P = 0.08). In ASSET-2 at baseline, there was a non-significant correlation between 6MWD and CO (P = 0.06). Due to limited sample sizes, efficacy endpoints were not analysed. However, in both studies, non-significant increases in CO were observed with bosentan compared to placebo. Similarly, non-significant decreases in PVR were observed with bosentan. Limited data in SCD-PH suggest that a low 6MWD predicts a low CO. Standard-dose bosentan appears to be well tolerated. Further investigation is warranted. Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers NCT00310830, NCT00313196, NCT00360087.

Page last updated: 2010-10-05

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