Successful treatment with bosentan for pulmonary hypertension and reduced peripheral circulation in juvenile systemic sclerosis

Pediatr Cardiol. 2011 Oct;32(7):1040-2. doi: 10.1007/s00246-011-0056-z. Epub 2011 Jul 26.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) when associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) (SSc-PAH) is one of the leading causes of mortality and is found in 10-15% of adult patients with SSc. The ET receptor antagonist bosentan has been shown to be effective in the treatment of adult patients with SSc-PAH. Furthermore, it has been shown that bosentan ameliorates decreased skin perfusion and digital ulceration secondary to SSc. However, the effectiveness and safety of bosentan for treatment of juvenile SSc still remains unclear. We describe a case of juvenile SSc-PAH successfully treated with bosentan. The present case shows that bosentan ameliorated PAH and peripheral circulation as evaluated by cold stress thermography. No bosentan-related adverse events such as liver dysfunction were observed. Prospective randomized trials are required to validate the effectiveness of bosentan for patients with juvenile SSc; however, bosentan might be useful for the management of patients with juvenile SSc.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bosentan
  • Child
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / drug effects*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / complications*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / physiopathology
  • Sulfonamides / administration & dosage
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use*
  • Thermography
  • Vascular Resistance*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Sulfonamides
  • Bosentan

Supplementary concepts

  • Juvenile systemic scleroderma