Treatment Selection in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors versus Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a chronic and life-threatening disease that if left untreated is fatal. Current therapies include stimulating the nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate axis, improving the prostacyclin pathway and inhibiting the endothelin pathway. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, such as sildenafil, and the sGC stimulator riociguat are currently used in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. This article discusses the similarities and differences between phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and sGC stimulator based on pharmacological action and clinical trials, and considers which is better for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.