Sildenafil Is More Selective Pulmonary Vasodilator Than Prostaglandin E_1 in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Heart Failure

摘要

In some patients, heart failure (HF) is associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). The magnitude and the reversibility of PVR elevation affect the HF management. Sildenafil has been recently recognized as potent PVR-lowering drug in HF. The aim of the study was to compare hemodynamic effects and pulmonary selectivity of sildenafil to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Right-heart catheterization was performed in 13 euvolemic advanced HF patients with elevated PVR (6.3±2 Wood's units). Hemodynamic parameters were measured at the baseline,duringi.v.infusionofPGEI(alprostadil200 ng.kg~(-1).min~(-1)) and after 40 mg oral dose of sildenafil. Both drugs similarly reduced systemic vascular resistance (SVR), but sildenafil had higher effect on PVR (-28 % vs. –49 %, p=0.05) and transpulmonary pressure gradient than PGEI. The PVR/SVR ratio – an index of pulmonary selectivity, did not change after PGE1 (p=0.7) but it decreased by –32 % (p=0.004) after sildenafil. Both drugs similarly reduced pulmonary artery mean and wedge pressures and increased cardiac index (+27 % and +28 %). Sildenafil led more often to transplant-acceptable PVR while causing smaller drop of mean systemic pressure than PGEI. In conclusion, vasodilatatory effects of sildenafil in patients with heart failure are more pronounced in pulmonary than in systemic circulation.