Cor Vasa 2002, 43(12):542-543
Current options in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in the Czech Republic - do they compare with the world?
- II. interní klinika, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha, Česká republika
Primary pulmonary hypertension is an incurable yet currently treatable disease. The mainstay of drug therapy of this disease presently includes, in addition to calcium-channel blockers and anticoagulation therapy, intravenous prostacyclin. Beginning July 2002, intravenous prostacyclin (epoprostenol) has been available for the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension also in the Czech Republic as the only former East Bloc country. Given the economic restraints, this extremely costly treatment will be reserved primarily for patients scheduled for lung transplantation. Continuous intravenous prostacyclin therapy allows to postpone transplantation and improves graft recipient survival rates. At present, epoprostenol is being used to successfully treat our first patient.
Keywords: Primary pulmonary hypertension; Treatment; Epoprostenol
Published: November 1, 2002 Show citation