RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 RESPITE: switching to riociguat in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with inadequate response to phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 1602425 DO 10.1183/13993003.02425-2016 VO 50 IS 3 A1 Marius M. Hoeper A1 Gérald Simonneau A1 Paul A. Corris A1 Hossein-Ardeschir Ghofrani A1 James R. Klinger A1 David Langleben A1 Robert Naeije A1 Pavel Jansa A1 Stephan Rosenkranz A1 Laura Scelsi A1 Ekkehard Grünig A1 Carmine Dario Vizza A1 MiKyung Chang A1 Pablo Colorado A1 Christian Meier A1 Dennis Busse A1 Raymond L. Benza YR 2017 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/3/1602425.abstract AB A proportion of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients do not reach treatment goals with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i). RESPITE investigated the safety, feasibility and benefit of switching from PDE5i to riociguat in these patients.RESPITE was a 24-week, open-label, multicentre, uncontrolled study. Patients in World Health Organization (WHO) functional class (FC) III, with 6-min walking distance (6MWD) 165–440 m, cardiac index <3.0 L·min−1·m−2 and pulmonary vascular resistance >400 dyn·s·cm−5 underwent a 1–3 day PDE5i treatment-free period before receiving riociguat adjusted up to 2.5 mg maximum t.i.d. Exploratory end-points included change in 6MWD, WHO FC, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and safety.Of 61 patients enrolled, 51 (84%) completed RESPITE. 50 (82%) were receiving concomitant endothelin receptor antagonists. At week 24, mean±sd 6MWD had increased by 31±63 m, NT-proBNP decreased by 347±1235 pg·mL−1 and WHO FC improved in 28 patients (54%). 32 patients (52%) experienced study drug-related adverse events and 10 (16%) experienced serious adverse events (2 (3%) study drug-related, none during the PDE5i treatment-free period). Six patients (10%) experienced clinical worsening, including death in two (not study drug-related).In conclusion, selected patients with PAH may benefit from switching from PDE5i to riociguat, but this strategy needs to be further studied. Switching to riociguat in PAH patients with inadequate response to PDE5i improved exercise capacity and NT-proBNP http://ow.ly/e6xL30dXCgy