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A pediatric case study of treprostinil overdose

Melinda Walsh1, Brian D Hanna

  • 1Philadelphia University, Pennsylvania, USA.

The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
|March 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

An accidental treprostinil overdose in a pediatric patient with pulmonary hypertension showed no significant side effects. This suggests treprostinil has a beneficial therapeutic index in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition affecting the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
  • Treprostinil, a prostacyclin analog, is a common treatment for PH in adults and children with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II, III, and IV symptoms.
  • It is administered via continuous intravenous or subcutaneous infusion.

Observation:

  • A pediatric patient with PH experienced an accidental overdose of treprostinil.
  • The patient received a massive dose significantly exceeding the recommended therapeutic range.
  • Close monitoring was conducted to assess for any adverse effects.

Findings:

  • Despite the massive overdose, the pediatric patient exhibited no significant adverse side effects.
  • Vital signs and clinical status remained stable throughout the observation period.
  • This observation suggests a wide safety margin for treprostinil in the pediatric population.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest that treprostinil possesses a beneficial therapeutic index in pediatric patients.
  • This case report may inform clinical practice regarding treprostinil dosing and safety in children with PH.
  • Further studies could explore the safety and efficacy of higher treprostinil doses in pediatric PH management.

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