Biomaterial Database

Long term inhalation of iloprost in a child with primary pulmonary hypertension: an alternative to continuous infusion. 2001

M Beghetti, and M Berner, and P C Rimensberger

Cardiology Unit, Hôpital des Enfants, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of Geneva, 1211 Genève 14, Switzerland. maurice.beghetti@hcuge.ch

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare disease in childhood associated with a poor prognosis. However, during the past 10 years, pulmonary vasodilator treatment has somewhat improved its prognosis. Long term continuous infusion of prostacyclin (epoprostenol) has been shown to improve physical capacity and to reduce mortality in primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension. It has been reported in adults that daily repetitive inhalation of iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue, seems also suitable for long term therapy of pulmonary hypertension. Repetitive inhalation of iloprost was administered to a 5 year old boy with severe primary pulmonary hypertension. He showed continuous clinical improvement without any side effects over the three years of treatment. This treatment may offer an alternative to continuous intravenous prostacyclin infusion and obviates the need for a permanent central venous catheter.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006976	Hypertension, Pulmonary	Increased VASCULAR RESISTANCE in the PULMONARY CIRCULATION, usually secondary to HEART DISEASES or LUNG DISEASES.	Pulmonary Hypertension
D008297	Male		Males
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000280	Administration, Inhalation	The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract.	Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D014665	Vasodilator Agents	Drugs used to cause dilation of the blood vessels.	Vasoactive Antagonists,Vasodilator,Vasodilator Agent,Vasodilator Drug,Vasorelaxant,Vasodilator Drugs,Vasodilators,Vasorelaxants,Agent, Vasodilator,Agents, Vasodilator,Antagonists, Vasoactive,Drug, Vasodilator,Drugs, Vasodilator
D016285	Iloprost	An eicosanoid, derived from the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. It is a stable and synthetic analog of EPOPROSTENOL, but with a longer half-life than the parent compound. Its actions are similar to prostacyclin. Iloprost produces vasodilation and inhibits platelet aggregation.	Ciloprost,Ventavis,ZK-36374,ZK 36374,ZK36374