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Bosentan therapy for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Author(s): Bonderman D, Nowotny R, Skoro-Sajer N, Jakowitsch J, Adlbrecht C, Klepetko W, Lang IM

Affiliation(s): Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Wahringer Gurtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Publication date & source: 2005-10, Chest., 128(4):2599-603.

Publication type: Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Bosentan, an oral endothelin (ET)-A/ET-B receptor antagonist, is effective in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of bosentan therapy in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Pulmonary Hypertension Unit of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients (9 women and 7 men; mean age +/- SD, 70 +/- 13 years). INTERVENTION: Off-label bosentan treatment over 6 months. MEASUREMENTS: Changes from baseline in liver enzymes, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, 6-min walking distance (6-MWD), and serum amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP). RESULTS: After 6 months, NYHA functional class improved by one class in 11 patients. Mean 6-MWDs increased from 299 +/- 131 m at baseline to 391 +/- 110 m at 6 months (p = 0.01). In parallel, proBNP decreased from 3,365 +/- 2,923 to 1,755 +/- 1,812 pg/mL (p = 0.01). Neither aspartate aminotransferase (25 +/- 2 U/L vs 25 +/- 2 U/L, p = 0.25) nor alanine aminotransferase (23 +/- 12 U/L vs 24 +/- 9 U/L, p = 0.57) changed significantly. Limitations of the study were uncontrolled design and small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a beneficial effect of the oral dual ET receptor antagonist bosentan in patients with inoperable CTEPH, urging the need for a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

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