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. 2002 Apr;87(4):340-5.
doi: 10.1136/heart.87.4.340.

Oral beraprost sodium improves exercise capacity and ventilatory efficiency in patients with primary or thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Affiliations

Oral beraprost sodium improves exercise capacity and ventilatory efficiency in patients with primary or thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

N Nagaya et al. Heart. 2002 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of beraprost sodium, an orally active prostacyclin analogue, on exercise capacity and ventilatory efficiency in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Patients and design: Symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed before and 3 (1) months (mean (SEM)) after beraprost treatment in 30 patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (14 with primary pulmonary hypertension and 16 with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension).

Results: Long term treatment with beraprost resulted in significant increases (mean (SEM)) in peak workload (87 (4) W to 97 (5) W, p < 0.001) and peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2, 14.9 (0.7) ml/kg/min to 16.8 (0.7) ml/kg/min, p < 0.001). Beraprost decreased the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide production during exercise (VE-VCO2 slope, 42 (2) to 37 (1), p < 0.001). No significant difference in the responses of these variables to beraprost treatment was observed between patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusions: Oral administration of beraprost sodium may improve exercise capacity and ventilatory efficiency in patients with both primary and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in peak workload during oral administration of beraprost in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Data are means, error bars = SEM.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in peak oxygen consumption (peak V̇o2) during oral administration of beraprost in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Data are means, error bars = SEM.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in ventilatory response to carbon dioxide production (V̇e–V̇co2 slope) during oral administration of beraprost in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Data are means, error bars = SEM.

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