Combination Therapy: The Future of Medical Management for PAH

In Conclusion

Significant advances in our understanding of the biology of PAH in the past 2 decades has led to the development of several therapeutic targets in this disease. These include prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Prospective, randomized clinical trials have demonstrated both the efficacy and safety of each of these treatments in PAH patients. Because hemodynamic and clinical progression continue in many patients on therapy, it has been argued that multiple treatment targets have to be addressed to receive optimal benefit. Preliminary clinical trials have supported this hypothesis by showing synergistic benefit and safety of combination therapy. These trials have thus far been relatively small and evaluated mostly short-term effects. Larger, long-term clinical trials are needed to validate these preliminary observations. Recognizing the most effective combination therapy and tailoring the combination therapy to individual patients using pharmacogenetics may well be the future of PAH care.  Printer- Friendly Email ThisFunding Information

Supported by an independent educational grant from Actelion

Medscape Cardiology.  2005;9(2) ©2005 Medscape
This is a part of article Combination Therapy: The Future of Medical Management for PAH Taken from "Cialis Compare Levitra Viagra" Information Blog