Which drug is a principal prostacyclin analog used to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in pulmonary hypertension?

Which drug is a principal prostacyclin analog used to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in pulmonary hypertension?

• A. Epoprostenol
• B. Oxygen
• C. Nitric oxide
• D. Nitrous oxide

Answer: (A)

In pulmonary hypertension, replacing the deficient prostacyclin signal helps dilate the pulmonary vessels and reduce the workload on the right ventricle. A principal prostacyclin analog used for this purpose is epoprostenol, which acts as a potent vasodilator of the pulmonary arteries and also inhibits platelet aggregation. Because it has a very short half-life, it’s given as a continuous IV infusion with careful monitoring, providing rapid and significant reductions in pulmonary vascular resistance and improvements in hemodynamics and symptoms in many patients with advanced disease. Oxygen and nitric oxide are also vasodilators, but they are not prostacyclin analogs, and nitrous oxide isn’t used for treating pulmonary hypertension.

In pulmonary hypertension, replacing the deficient prostacyclin signal helps dilate the pulmonary vessels and reduce the workload on the right ventricle. A principal prostacyclin analog used for this purpose is epoprostenol, which acts as a potent vasodilator of the pulmonary arteries and also inhibits platelet aggregation. Because it has a very short half-life, it’s given as a continuous IV infusion with careful monitoring, providing rapid and significant reductions in pulmonary vascular resistance and improvements in hemodynamics and symptoms in many patients with advanced disease. Oxygen and nitric oxide are also vasodilators, but they are not prostacyclin analogs, and nitrous oxide isn’t used for treating pulmonary hypertension.