Long-term effect of bosentan in pulmonary hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease

Bosentan is recommended for symptomatic patients with Eisenmenger syndrome due to simple congenital lesions such as atrial and ventricular septal defects (VSD). However, its long-term efficacy and safety in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) is unknown.

We examined the short- and long-term effects and safety profile of bosentan in patients with PAH and complex CHD.

We followed 14 patients with PAH and complex CHD for a mean of four years. Demographic parameters, exercise capacity assessed by the six-minute walking test (6MWT) and oxygen saturation were assessed at baseline, six months and at follow-up.

Mean age was 37.1 ± 11.7 years; 90% were in WHO class III or IV. The most common diagnosis was pulmonary atresia with VSD (35.7%), followed by truncus arteriosus (28.6%), patent ductus arteriosus (21.4%) and transposition of the great arteries (14.3%). After six months of treatment, six-minute walking distance (6MWD) increased from 371.9 to 428.4 m (p=0.005) and functional class was improved (p=0.005). After four years, one patient discontinued bosentan due to side effects and four patients were started on sildenafil, after a mean 38 months of bosentan treatment. Mean 6MWD for patients on bosentan monotherapy (n=8) was 440.1 ± 103.8 m, whereas for patients on bosentan-sildenafil combination therapy (n=4) it was 428.8 ± 96.9 m, after four years of therapy. Two patients died during follow-up.

Bosentan was safe and was associated with improved exercise capacity in patients with PAH and complex CHD. This improvement was sustained for up to four years and the safety profile was similar to simple CHD patients.