Safety and Efficacy of Transition From Subcutaneous Treprostinil to Oral Sildenafil in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), and has been shown to improve 6-minute walk distance (SMWD) and World Health Organization (WHO) functional class in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH) and PAH associated with connective tissue disease or with repaired congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts. Despite the efficacy of sildenafil in patients on conventional therapy with diuretics and anti-coagulants, little is known of the safety and efficacy of transitioning patients already established on parenteral prostanoid therapy to sildenafil. Methods: We studied 14 patients on long-term subcutaneous treprostinil for PAH (from..