Objectives: To study the short term effects of sildenafi] citrate therapy in patients with
secondary pulmonary hypertension.
Methods: Forty patients with known symptomatic secondary pulmonary hypertension due to val
vular heart disease, chronic thromboembolic disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inter
stitial pulmonary fibrosis, and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were included in this phase II
study. Patients were allocated in a randomized, placebo controlled design to either sildenafil or pla
cebo for 6 weeks. Baseline and 6 week follow up included assessment of hemodynamic parameters,
functional class using the NYHA classification, echocardiograpbic measurements of pulmonary
artery systolic pressure and left ventricular ejection fraction |
