Bosentan therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

Eur J Clin Invest. 2006 Sep:36 Suppl 3:71-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01683.x.

Abstract

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a disorder of arteriovenous malformations and telangiectases. In rare cases affected individuals may develop typical pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Vasodilator therapy has not been recommended because of a potential increase in arteriovenous shunt volume. This report is on two patients with severe HHT-associated PAH who were treated with bosentan, an oral endothelin ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist. After 1 year, symptomatic and functional improvements were confirmed by haemodynamic evaluation demonstrating a significant decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressures and an increase in cardiac index, without evidence for an increase in effective shunt volume.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Bosentan
  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Sulfonamides / administration & dosage*
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / complications*
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
  • Sulfonamides
  • Bosentan