Eur Respir J 2004; 24:1007-1010
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2004
Combination therapy with bosentan and sildenafil in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
M.M. Hoeper1,
C. Faulenbach1,
H. Golpon1,
J. Winkler2,
T. Welte1 and
J. Niedermeyer1
1 Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, and 2 Dept of Cardiopulmonary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
CORRESPONDENCE: M.M. Hoeper, Hannover Medical School, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Fax: 49 5115328536. E-mail: hoeper.marius@mh-hannover.de
Keywords: Bosentan, endothelin receptor antagonists, hypertension, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, pulmonary, sildenafil
Received: April 29, 2004
Accepted July 7, 2004
It has been proposed that targeted treatments should be combined for patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) responding insufficiently to monotherapy.
This study followed the clinical course of nine patients with severe IPAH, in whom the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan caused transient clinical improvement, eventually followed by a decline in exercise tolerance, who received adjunct treatment with the phospodiesterase-5-inhibitor sildenafil. Measurements included the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
The 6MWD at baseline was 346±66 m and improved to 403±80 m 3 months after introduction of bosentan treatment. However, this effect was not sustained and, after an interval of 11±5 months, the walk distance had declined to 277±80 m. At this point, sildenafil was added to bosentan. Three months later, the 6MWD had increased to 392±61 m and the patients remained stable throughout the median follow-up of 9 months (range 612). Measurement of the maximum oxygen uptake during CPET confirmed these results. The combination of bosentan and sildenafil was well tolerated by all patients.
These preliminary data suggest that combining bosentan and sildenafil may be safe and effective in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
J-L Vachiery and A. Davenport
The endothelin system in pulmonary and renal vasculopathy: les liaisons dangereuses
Eur. Respir. Rev.,
December 1, 2009;
18(114):
260 - 271.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of, N. Galie, M. M. Hoeper, M. Humbert, A. Torbicki, J-L. Vachiery, J. A. Barbera, M. Beghetti, P. Corris, S. Gaine, et al.
Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
December 1, 2009;
34(6):
1219 - 1263.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Gruenig, E. Michelakis, J.-L. Vachiery, C. D. Vizza, F. J. Meyer, M. Doelberg, D. Bach, J. Dingemanse, and N. Galie
Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Single-Dose Sildenafil When Added to Established Bosentan Therapy in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results of the COMPASS-1 Study
J. Clin. Pharmacol.,
November 1, 2009;
49(11):
1343 - 1352.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Authors/Task Force Members, N. Galie, M. M. Hoeper, M. Humbert, A. Torbicki, J.-L. Vachiery, J. A. Barbera, M. Beghetti, P. Corris, S. Gaine, et al.
Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS), endorsed by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)
Eur. Heart J.,
October 2, 2009;
30(20):
2493 - 2537.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Galie, L. Negro, and G. Simonneau
The use of combination therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension: new developments
Eur. Respir. Rev.,
September 1, 2009;
18(113):
148 - 153.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. V. McLaughlin, D. B. Badesch, M. Delcroix, T. R. Fleming, S. P. Gaine, N. Galie, J. S. R. Gibbs, N. H. Kim, R. J. Oudiz, A. Peacock, et al.
End Points and Clinical Trial Design in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.,
June 30, 2009;
54(1 Suppl):
S97 - 107.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. D. McGoon and G. C. Kane
Pulmonary Hypertension: Diagnosis and Management
Mayo Clin. Proc.,
February 1, 2009;
84(2):
191 - 207.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Simonneau, L. J. Rubin, N. Galie, R. J. Barst, T. R. Fleming, A. E. Frost, P. J. Engel, M. R. Kramer, G. Burgess, L. Collings, et al.
Addition of Sildenafil to Long-Term Intravenous Epoprostenol Therapy in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Randomized Trial
Ann Intern Med,
October 21, 2008;
149(8):
521 - 530.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Boutet, D. Montani, X. Jais, A. Yaici, O. Sitbon, G. Simonneau, and M. Humbert
Review: Therapeutic advances in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease,
August 1, 2008;
2(4):
249 - 265.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. R. Wilkins, J. Wharton, F. Grimminger, and H. A. Ghofrani
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
July 1, 2008;
32(1):
198 - 209.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. E. Wrishko, J. Dingemanse, A. Yu, C. Darstein, D. L. Phillips, and M. I. Mitchell
Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Tadalafil and Bosentan in Healthy Male Subjects
J. Clin. Pharmacol.,
May 1, 2008;
48(5):
610 - 618.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
National Pulmonary Hypertension Centres of the UK
Consensus statement on the management of pulmonary hypertension in clinical practice in the UK and Ireland
Heart,
March 1, 2008;
94(Suppl_1):
i1 - i41.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
National Pulmonary Hypertension Centres of the UK
Consensus statement on the management of pulmonary hypertension in clinical practice in the UK and Ireland
Thorax,
March 1, 2008;
63(Suppl_2):
ii1 - ii41.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Dupuis and M. M. Hoeper
Endothelin receptor antagonists in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
February 1, 2008;
31(2):
407 - 415.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. J. Oudiz, G. Roveran, J. E. Hansen, X.-G. Sun, and K. Wasserman
Effect of sildenafil on ventilatory efficiency and exercise tolerance in pulmonary hypertension
Eur J Heart Fail,
September 1, 2007;
9(9):
917 - 921.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Takaoka, J. L. Faul, and R. Doyle
Current Therapies for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia,
June 1, 2007;
11(2):
137 - 148.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Hoeper
Observational trials in pulmonary arterial hypertension: low scientific evidence but high clinical value
Eur. Respir. J.,
March 1, 2007;
29(3):
432 - 434.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. C. Mathai, R. E. Girgis, M. R. Fisher, H. C. Champion, T. Housten-Harris, A. Zaiman, and P. M. Hassoun
Addition of sildenafil to bosentan monotherapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
March 1, 2007;
29(3):
469 - 475.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S C Apostolopoulou, A Manginas, D V Cokkinos, and S Rammos
Long-term oral bosentan treatment in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease: a 2-year study
Heart,
March 1, 2007;
93(3):
350 - 354.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S A van Wolferen, A Boonstra, J T Marcus, K M J Marques, J G F Bronzwaer, P E Postmus, and A Vonk-Noordegraaf
Right ventricular reverse remodelling after sildenafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Heart,
December 1, 2006;
92(12):
1860 - 1861.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. V. McLaughlin, R. J. Oudiz, A. Frost, V. F. Tapson, S. Murali, R. N. Channick, D. B. Badesch, R. J. Barst, H. H. Hsu, and L. J. Rubin
Randomized Study of Adding Inhaled Iloprost to Existing Bosentan in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
December 1, 2006;
174(11):
1257 - 1263.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Mereles, N. Ehlken, S. Kreuscher, S. Ghofrani, M. M. Hoeper, M. Halank, F. J. Meyer, G. Karger, J. Buss, J. Juenger, et al.
Exercise and Respiratory Training Improve Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients With Severe Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension
Circulation,
October 3, 2006;
114(14):
1482 - 1489.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Hoeper, H. Leuchte, M. Halank, H. Wilkens, F. J. Meyer, H. J. Seyfarth, R. Wensel, F. Ripken, H. Bremer, S. Kluge, et al.
Combining inhaled iloprost with bosentan in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
October 1, 2006;
28(4):
691 - 694.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. A. Ghofrani, R. Voswinckel, F. Reichenberger, N. Weissmann, R. T. Schermuly, W. Seeger, and F. Grimminger
Hypoxia- and non-hypoxia-related pulmonary hypertension - Established and new therapies
Cardiovasc Res,
October 1, 2006;
72(1):
30 - 40.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Clozel, P. Hess, M. Rey, M. Iglarz, C. Binkert, and C. Qiu
Bosentan, Sildenafil, and Their Combination in the Monocrotaline Model of Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats
Exp Biol Med,
June 1, 2006;
231(6):
967 - 973.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Hoeper and L. J. Rubin
Update in pulmonary hypertension 2005.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
March 1, 2006;
173(5):
499 - 505.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Hoeper, I. Markevych, E. Spiekerkoetter, T. Welte, and J. Niedermeyer
Goal-oriented treatment and combination therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
November 1, 2005;
26(5):
858 - 863.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Hoeper, T. Kramm, H. Wilkens, C. Schulze, H. J. Schafers, T. Welte, and E. Mayer
Bosentan Therapy for Inoperable Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Chest,
October 1, 2005;
128(4):
2363 - 2367.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. H. Morice, S. Mulrennan, and A. Clark
Combination therapy with bosentan and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Eur. Respir. J.,
July 1, 2005;
26(1):
180 - 180.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. V. McLaughin and M. M. Hoeper
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: The Race for the Most Effective Treatment
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
June 1, 2005;
171(11):
1199 - 1201.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. R. Wilkins, G. A. Paul, J. W. Strange, N. Tunariu, W. Gin-Sing, W. A. Banya, M. A. Westwood, A. Stefanidis, L. L. Ng, D. J. Pennell, et al.
Sildenafil versus Endothelin Receptor Antagonist for Pulmonary Hypertension (SERAPH) Study
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
June 1, 2005;
171(11):
1292 - 1297.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2004 by the European Respiratory Society.
|
|