PULMONARY ARTERIAL
HYPERTENSION(PAH)
R. Anusha,
Pharm D intern
170514882007
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INTRODUCTION
In the human body, there are two types of circulation that
enable distribution of blood through out the body.
The portion that pumps oxygenated blood from the left
side of the heart via the left ventricle to all parts of the
body is known as the systemic circulation.
On the other hand, the portion that pumps deoxygenated
bloodfrom the right side of the heart via the right
ventricle into the lungs to obtain oxygen is referred to as
the PULMONARY CIRCULATION.
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Pressures in the lung arteries are normally lower than the
pressures in the systemic circulation.
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the pressure in the
pulmonary circulation becomes abnormally elevated.
Normal pulmonary artery pressure is 8-20 mm Hg at rest.
Pulmonary hypertension is pressure in the pulmonary
artery that is greater than 25 mm Hg at rest or 30
mmHg during physical activity.
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RISKFACTORS
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Congestive heart failure
Blood clots in the lungs
Family history
Lupus
Scleroderma
Emphysema
Chronic bronchitis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Sleep apnea
Cirrhosis
HIV/AIDs
Sex (young female)
Drug induced
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
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It is high blood pressure (BP) in the arteries that go
from the heart to the lungs.
Can be genetic or caused by another condition.
Platelets, fibroblasts, and circulating cells are involved
in the progression of PAH
The phenotypical change of pulmonary arterial smooth
muscle cells (PASMCs) and pulmonary arterial
endothelial cells (PAECs) results from multiple genetic
and acquired defects and is probably the major cause for
the onset of the disease.
Increased PASMC contraction, increased PASMC
proliferation and inhibited PASMC apoptosis,
monoclonal PAEC proliferation, and endothelial injury
all are involved in the development of sustained
pulmonary vasoconstriction, lumen obliteration of small
pulmonary arteries with plexiform lesions, and
pulmonary vascular wall thickening due to medial
hypertrophy.
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FUNCTIONALCLASSIFICATION
A.Class I -Patients with pulmonary hypertension but
without resulting limitation of physical activity.
Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue
dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope.
B.ClassII-Patients with pulmonary hypertension
resulting in slight limitation of physical activity. They
are comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity
causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near
syncope.
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C.Class III -Patients with pulmonary hypertension
resulting in marked limitation of physical activity.
They are comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary
activity causes undue dyspnea, fatigue, and chest pain
or near syncope.
D.Class IV -Patients with pulmonary hypertension with
inability to carry out any physical activity without
symptoms. These patients manifest signs of right heart
failure. Dyspnea and /or fatigue may be present even at
rest. Discomfort is increased by any physical activity
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SIGNSANDSYMPTOMS
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DIAGNOSIS
Hard to spot/diagnose because it mimics those of other
similar conditions.
Will assess medical history and use one or more tests (ie.
blood test, chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI,
electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, heart
catheterization, pulmonary function test, lung biopsy)
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TREATMENT: NON-PHARMACOLOGIC
Salt and volume management
Supervised exercise (not too strenuous)
Immunization -Specifically, influenza and
pneumococcal
Improving diet
Psycho-social support
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TREATMENT:PHARMACOLOGIC
Fluid restriction
Diureticsto decrease fluid accumulation
Cardiac glycosides (eg, digitalis) in an attempt to
improve cardiac function
Calcium channel blockers for vasodilation
Intravenous prostacyclin helps to decrease pulmonary
hypertension by reducing pulmonary vascular resistance
and pressures and increasing cardiac output
Anticoagulantssuch as warfarin have been given to
patients because of chronic pulmonary emboli.
Long-term oxygen therapy is suggested to maintain
arterial blood O2 pressure at 60 mmHg
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All: Anticoagulants ±Diuretics ±Digoxin ±Oxygen
Acute vasoreactivetesting (IPAH or APAH, ONLY)
Positive: use high dose oral CCB (ie. nifedipine, diltiazem,
or amlodipine)
Negative: depends on risk
•Low/High risk: Endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) or
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) Inhibitors (oral),
[Prostanoids: epoprostenol(IV) or treprostinil(IV/SC),
Iloprost(inhaled)], Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)
stimulators
•Low or intermediate risk: monotherapy or oral combination
therapy
•High risk: combination therapy including IV prostacyclin
analogs
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Prostanoids:
Epoprostenol(Flolan, Veletri): 2 ng/kg/min IV infusion every 15
min (initial)
Treprostinil(Remodulin, Tyvasco):
•Remodulin(IV) = 1.25 ng/kg/min continuous SC or central line
IV infusion (initial)
•Tyvasco: QID inhalation
Iloprost(Ventavis): 2.5 -5 mcg/inhalation 6-9x/day
•Class AE: D/N/V (dose limiting), flushing, hypotension, anxiety,
chest pain, tachycardia, edema
•Chronic use: anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and jaw pain (lockjaw
with Iloprost)
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ERAs:
Bosentan: 62.5 mg PO bid x 4 wksand then 125 mg bid
•BBW: hepatotoxicity and Cat X
•CI: cyclosporin and glyburide
•AE: HA, decrease Hgb, anemia, increase LFTs, upper
respiratory tract infections, edema, male infertility
•Monitor: LFTs
Ambrisentan: 5 or 10 mg PO qd
•BBW: Cat X
•AE: peripheral edema, HA, decrease Hgb, flushing,
palpitations, congestion
•Monitor: Hgb and haematocrit
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PDE-5 Is:
Sildenafil(Revatio): 10 mg IV tidor 20 mg PO tid(4-6
hr apart)
Tadalafil(Adcirca): 40 mg PO qdor 20 mg PO qdwith
mild –moderate renal/hepatic impairment (avoid with
CrCl< 30 mL/min)
•CI: nitrates or sildenafil with PI based regimen, severe
hepatic impairment
•AE: dizziness, sudden drop in BP, HA, flush, dyspepsia,
back pain (Adcirca), and epistaxis
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sGCstimulant:
Riociguat(Adempas): 1 mg PO TID (initial)
•Antacids decrease absorption and should not be taken
within 1 hr of taking medication
•BBW: Cat X
•CI: nitrates or NO donors, PDE inhibitors
•AE: HA, dyspepsia and gastritis, dizziness, N/D/V,
hypotension
•Monitor: BP (baseline and every 2 weeks)
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If fail therapy, add another agent
If fail that, lung transplant or atrial septostomy (Last
option)
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REFERNCES
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension,GandharbaRay, L Ravi
Kumar,Pg:126-130.
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