Favorable Outcome of Pregnancy with an Elective Use of Epoprostenol and Sildenafil in Women with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

• Published in: Cardiology Vol. 115; no. 3; pp. 205 - 208
• Main Authors: Goland, Sorel, Tsai, Fausen, Habib, Munira, Janmohamed, Munir, Goodwin, T. Murphy, Elkayam, Uri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Cesarean Section; Clinical outcomes; Drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epoprostenol - adverse effects; Epoprostenol - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension, Pulmonary - drug therapy; Infant, Newborn; Novel Insights from Clinical Experience; Piperazines - adverse effects; Piperazines - therapeutic use; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular - drug therapy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure - drug effects; Purines - adverse effects; Purines - therapeutic use; Sildenafil Citrate; Sterilization, Tubal; Sulfones - adverse effects; Sulfones - therapeutic use; Vascular Resistance - drug effects; Vasodilator Agents - adverse effects; Vasodilator Agents - therapeutic use; Womens health; Young Adult; Pregnancy; Epoprostenol; Sildenafil; Pulmonary hypertension
• ISSN: 0008-6312; 1421-9751
• DOI: 10.1159/000287638

Background: Pulmonary hypertension carries significant maternal and fetal risk during pregnancy and the postpartum period. As maternal mortality is high, specific targeted therapy for pulmonary hypertension may be required during pregnancy. Cases: We describe 2 pregnant patients who presented with severe secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension during their last trimester. They were electively treated in the late antepartum and early postpartum periods with sildenafil and intravenous epoprostenol and successfully delivered healthy infants via cesarean section without postpartum complications. Conclusion: Although pulmonary hypertension is associated with a risk of maternal mortality and most women are advised against pregnancy, new therapies may improve the outcome of pregnancy in patients with pulmonary hypertension.