PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Regina Steringer-Mascherbauer
AU  - Veronika Eder
AU  - Charlotte Huber
AU  - Susanne Wittrich
AU  - Reinhold Fuegger
AU  - Uwe Fröschl
AU  - Hans Joachim Nesser
TI  - First long-term experience with intravenous treprostinil administered by the implantable infusion pump LenusPro. A single-center pilot study
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P943
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P943.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P943.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - IntroductionParenteral prostanoids are considered to be the most potent agents in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, administration of prostanoids with external pump systems is technically challenging and associated with side effects such as infusion site pain with subcutaneous (s.c.) and possibly life-threatening catheter-related infections with intravenous (i.v.) administration. The Lenus Pro implantable infusion pump was specifically developed to overcome the drawbacks of s.c. administration. In 2010, we reported the first implantation of a Lenus Pro pump with a filling interval of 28 days.ResultsBetween September 2010 and October 2011, 14 patients underwent implantation at our center. All patients had previously shown significant clinical response to s.c. Treprostinil but suffered from site pain. Implantations were performed under general anesthesia. After preparation of the pump pocket in the abdominal wall the pump was connected to the central venous access. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperatively two patients developed a mild seroma. No other complications especially no infections were observed. Up to now more than 100 refill procedures were performed.ConclusionsThis first pilot study demonstrates that i.v. Treprostinil, delivered by the implantable pump Lenus Pro® is safe, effective and feasible in PAH patients transitioned from s.c. Treprostinil. Filling intervals of 28 days ensure optimal compliance and long-term patient management. The absence of side effects such as infusion site pain is associated with a dramatic increase in quality of life.