Successful treatment of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism by long-term intermittent administration of milrinone, a phosphodiesterase-ill inhibitor

Intern Med. 2002 Nov;41(11):961-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.41.961.

Abstract

We report a 71-year-old man with right heart failure due to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. Oral medications failed to control the condition but he was later successfully treated with intermittent administration of a PDE-III inhibitor for 2 years. Such therapy did not result in exacerbation of right heart failure but improvement of ANP/BNP levels to 32/104 pg/ml from a pretreatment value of 61/158 pg/ml, although no improvement was noted in pulmonary artery pressure or cardiac index. Intermittent administration of PDE-III inhibitors is a useful treatment for patients with right heart failure resistant to oral agents.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Aged
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Milrinone / administration & dosage*
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy*
  • Remission Induction
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
  • 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3
  • Milrinone