Oral sildenafil therapy for Chinese patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a multicenter study

J Clin Pharmacol. 2012 Mar;52(3):425-31. doi: 10.1177/0091270011398241. Epub 2011 Mar 17.

Abstract

The impact of sildenafil on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in Chinese patients has been less investigated. A prospective, open-label, uncontrolled and multicenter study, therefore, was carried out to address this issue. Ninety patients with multicause-induced PAH received oral sildenafil (75 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The 6-minute walk test (SMWT) and cardiac catheterization were performed at the beginning and the end of the 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the changes in exercise capacity assessed by the SMWT; the secondary endpoint included assessment of functional class, evaluation of cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, and clinical worsening. Drug safety and tolerability were also examined. The results showed that there was a significant improvement in SMWT distances (342 ± 93 m vs 403 ± 88 m, P < .0001), Borg dyspnea score (2.9 ± 2.6 vs 2.4 ± 2.0, P = .0046), World Health Organization functional class, and cardiopulmonary hemodynamics (mean pulmonary artery pressure, P < .0001; cardiac index, P < .0001; pulmonary vascular resistance, P < .0001) after 12 weeks of oral sidenafil therapy. Almost all enrolled patients did not experience significant clinical worsening. This study confirms and extends the findings of previous studies relating to effects of sildenafil on PAH, suggesting that oral sildenafil is safe and effective for the treatment of adult patients with PAH in the Chinese population.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • China / epidemiology
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Piperazines / adverse effects
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Purines / adverse effects
  • Purines / therapeutic use
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Sulfones / adverse effects
  • Sulfones / therapeutic use*
  • Vasodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Sulfones
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Sildenafil Citrate