Combination therapy with bosentan and sildenafil in Eisenmenger syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial

Kasper Iversen, Annette S Jensen, Tim V Jensen, Niels G Vejlstrup, Lars Søndergaard, Annette Schophuus Jensen

    122 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of combining the dual endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan, and the phosfodiesterase-5-inhibitor, sildenafil, in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome.Methods and resultsThe study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cross-over design. Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (n = 21) were treated open label with bosentan for 9 months. After 3 months, sildenafil/placebo was added for 3 months, and a cross-over was performed for the last 3 months. At baseline and after 3, 6, and 9 months, patients were examined with 6 min walk test, oxygen saturations, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, cardiac catheterization, and magnetic resonance imaging. The primary endpoint was changed in 6 min walk distance (MWD). Bosentan improved the 6 MWD (377 vs. 414 m, P = 0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (28 vs. 22 wood, P = 0.01), and pulmonary blood flow (2.6 vs. 3.5 L/min, P = 0.01). Adding sildenafil to bosentan did not improve the 6 MWD significantly (21 vs. 8 m, P = 0.48), but increased saturation at rest (2.9 vs.-1.8, P < 0.01).ConclusionIn Eisenmenger syndrome, treatment with bosentan significantly improved walking distance, pulmonary blood flow, and PVR. Adding sildenafil to bosentan did not significantly improve walking distance but did increase saturation at rest.http://www.ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00303004.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalEuropean Heart Journal
    Volume31
    Issue number9
    Pages (from-to)1124-31
    Number of pages8
    ISSN0195-668X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2010

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