[Vasodilation effects of prostaglandin E1 in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension]

Prostaglandin E1. (Prostavasin, Schwarz, FRG) was administered in a short-term infusion, 5-30 ng/kg/min., to five patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension associated with lung disease. Significant pulmonary vasodilatation characterized by a drop of the median pressure in the pulmonary artery by 15% and of the pulmonary vascular resistance by 31% was achieved only in two patients. The authors observed a minimal incidence of side-effects; systemic hypotension observed in three patients was an undesirable manifestaútion. Prostaglandin E1 extends possibilities of a vasodilatating influence on precapillary pulmonary hypertension in lung disease. With regard to the different individual reactivity of patients it should be administered in this indication only under conditions of haemodynamic monitoring.