[Effectiveness of continuous intravenous prostaglandin E 1 against pulmonary hypertension]

Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease for which no effective therapy has been found. Short-team treatment with alprostadil alfadex (PGE 1) can improve hemodynamics but the effects of long-term treatment have not been reported. We administered intravenous PGE 1 to 16 patients with pulmonary hypertension for 4 weeks in addition to conventional therapy. Hemodynamic and symptomatic effects were evaluated. The infusion was interrupted in 7 patients (44%) because of fever and an increase in levels of C-reactive protein in serum. In the remaining 9 patients, the drug lowered pulmonary artery pressure and resistance, and imareased cardiac output significantly in 7 patients. PGE 1 can improve hemodynamics and relieve symptoms in patients with pulmonary hypertension, barring severe side effects.