Low-dose epoprostenol improved pulmonary hypertension in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Apr;26(4):582-3. doi: 10.1007/s10067-005-0170-5. Epub 2006 Jan 4.

Abstract

A 43-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital in 1997 because of Raynaud's phenomenon. Systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of antinuclear antibody (1:1,280), anti-DNA antibody (1:640), anti-Sm antibody, antiphospholipid antibody, lymphopenia, and proteinuria. She developed pulmonary fibrosis in 1999 and pulmonary hypertension in 2001. In October 2002, a 24-hr continuous infusion of epoprostenol was started. Dyspnea, Raynaud's phenomenon, and pulmonary hypertension improved with low-dose epoprostenol (3.0 to 4.0 ng kg(-1) min(-1)). The patient could not tolerate larger doses of epoprostenol so 4.0 ng kg(-1) min(-1) was selected as the maintenance dose. The clinical course was uneventful at this dosage. It appears that pulmonary hypertension can be controlled with low-dose epoprostenol such as 3.0 to 4.0 ng kg(-1) min(-1) in some rheumatic patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Epoprostenol / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Epoprostenol