Long-term administration of beraprost, an oral prostacyclin analogue, improves pulmonary diffusion capacity in patients with systemic sclerosis.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of beraprost sodium, an oral prostacyclin analogue, on pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis. Seventeen patients, with systemic sclerosis and predicted percent values of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (%DLCO) of less than 95, received beraprost sodium for at least 12 months. Conventional testing for pulmonary function was performed at 12-month intervals and changes were evaluated with special reference to DLCO. Twelve patients completed the treatment. Nine patients showed improvement in DLCO (12.1 +/- 2.3 to 15.5 +/- 4.4 ml/min/mmHg, P < 0.006) and 10 patients showed an increase in %DLCO (66.6 +/- 11.9 to 87.7 +/- 23.2%, P < 0.004). Total lung capacity, vital capacity and forced expiratory volume remained unchanged. This study showed that DLCO levels in patients with systemic sclerosis improved after the administration of beraprost sodium, probably due to the decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance accompanied by increased cardiac output. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.