| Abstrakt: |
The treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is directed at the underlying cause, such as diastolic heart failure or chronic thromboembolic disease. Patients with idiopathic PAH or PAH associated with connective-tissue disease who have World Health Organization (WHO) functional class II or III PAH should receive a trial of oral bosentan, ambrisentan, and/or sildenafil; inhaled iloprost is an alternative or an additive agent. If patients fail to respond to these interventions or if they have WHO functional class IV PAH, consider subcutaneous or intravenous treprostinil or epoprostenol. The use of these latter agents is much more complicated and may be difficult to initiate in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
