Objective: To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) by intravenous drip in cor pulmonale patients with heart failure.
Methods: Thirty caseas of cor pulmonale with heart failure were treated with PGE1 at a dose of 200 micrograms.d-1 for 5 days and in 30 patients with cor pulmonale heart failure (no PGE1) and in 20 healthy subjects as controls. The level of serum endogenous digoxin-like factor (EDF), serum lipoid superoxide (LPO), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood PaO2, PaCO2 were determined. Their symptoms and signs were observed before and after treatment.
Results: The level of serum EDF, LPO were significantly increased (P < 0.001) and serum SOD was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in PGE1 group and controls group (no PGE1) as compared with healthy subjects. In PGE1 group the level of serum EDF, LPO were markedly decreased (P < 0.001), and serum SOD was markedly elevated (P < 0.001), and their symptoms, signs and blood gas parameters had noteworthyly improved (P < 0.01-0.001). But in the control group (no PGE1) the level of serum EDF, LPO, SOD, blood gas parameters and their symptoms and signs, showed no significant difference (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: PGE1 is effective in therapy of cor pulmonale with heart failure. Treatment with PGE1 shows more significant benefits in cor pulmonale patients with heart failure.