Bosentan treatment of portopulmonary hypertension related to liver cirrhosis owing to hepatitis C

Eur J Clin Invest. 2006 Sep:36 Suppl 3:67-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01687.x.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with coexisting portal hypertension has been defined as portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN). It is often related to liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies and is associated with a high mortality rate. Endothelin-1 (ET) is supposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of PAH as well as portal hypertension. Therefore, therapy with an ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist might be of use in the treatment of PPHTN. We report the case of a 76-year-old male with liver cirrhosis owing to chronic hepatitis C virus infection and PPHTN who was treated with the dual ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist bosentan. The patient showed remarkable improvement of 6-min walking distance from 300 to 480 m after 2 weeks and to 540 m after 14 weeks, respectively. In addition, a significant decline of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide fraction (NT-proBNP) from 4928 ng mL(-1) to 640 ng mL(-1) was observed. Bosentan might be a promising new therapeutical option for patients suffering from PPHTN.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Aged
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Bosentan
  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Portal / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Portal / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Male
  • Sulfonamides / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Sulfonamides
  • Bosentan