[Primary arterial pulmonary hypertension and sildenafil: a case report from Dakar]

Abstract

Introduction: We report our experience of using sildenafil in treatment on primary arterial pulmonary hypertension.

Patient: This case concern a 38 years old senegalese woman. She was hospitalised for global cardiac failure with right signs predominance and grade IV dyspnea related to pulmonary hypertension.

Results: No evident cause of the pulmonary hypertension had been found after explorations. Adding sildénafil to her symptomatic treatment provided fast favourable evolution quantified by clinical test and Doppler-ultrasound heart examination. However the patient died three month later by cerebral hemorrhage due to overdose of antivitamine K.

Conclusion: We suggest using sildenafil in the treatment of primary arterial pulmonary hypertension on the way going to cardio-pulmonary transplantation.