Table 21—

Recommendations for efficacy of specific drug therapy, balloon atrial septostomy and lung transplantation for pulmonary arterial hypertension(group 1) according to World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC)

Measure/treatmentClasses of recommendation–level of evidence
WHO-FC IIWHO-FC IIIWHO-FC IV
Calcium channel blockersI–C#I–C#
Endothelin receptor antagonistsAmbrisentanI–AI–AIIa–C
BosentanI–AI–AIIa–C
SitaxentanIIa–CI–AIIa–C
Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitorsSildenafilI–AI–AIIa–C
TadalafilI–BI–BIIa–C
ProstanoidsBeraprostIIb–B
Epoprostenol (intravenous)I–AI–A
Iloprost (inhaled)I–AIIa–C
Iloprost (intravenous)IIa–CIIa–C
Treprostinil (subcutaneous)I–BIIa–C
Treprostinil (intravenous)IIa–CIIa–C
Treprostinil (inhaled)I–BIIa–C
Initial drugs combination therapyIIa–C
Sequential drugs combination therapyIIa–CIIa–BIia–B
Balloon atrial septostomyI–CI–C
Lung transplantationI–CI–C
  • #: only in responders to acute vasoreactivity tests, I for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), heritable PAH and PAH due to anorexigens; IIa for APAH conditions; : under regulatory review in the European Union.