Yohei Miura1, Masaharu Kataoka2, Tomohiro Chiba3, Takumi Inami1, Hideaki Yoshino1, Toru Satoh1. 1. Division of Cardiology, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine. 2. Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine. 3. Department of Pathology, Kyorin University School of Medicine.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Epoprostenol infusion is the strongest and most convincing therapeutic strategy for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study investigated the gastrointestinal side effects of epoprostenol. Methods and Results: The study group of 12 patients treated with epoprostenol (epoprostenol group) and 4 patients without epoprostenol (control group) underwent stomach barium examination, which revealed that the prevalence of giant fold gastritis was significantly higher in the patients treated with epoprostenol (75% in epoprostenol group vs. 0% in control group; P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Giant fold gastritis may be an important side effect of epoprostenol infusion.
BACKGROUND:Epoprostenol infusion is the strongest and most convincing therapeutic strategy for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study investigated the gastrointestinal side effects of epoprostenol. Methods and Results: The study group of 12 patients treated with epoprostenol (epoprostenol group) and 4 patients without epoprostenol (control group) underwent stomach barium examination, which revealed that the prevalence of giant fold gastritis was significantly higher in the patients treated with epoprostenol (75% in epoprostenol group vs. 0% in control group; P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Giant fold gastritis may be an important side effect of epoprostenol infusion.