Treatment Discontinuation or Interruption in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Mar;25(2):131-141. doi: 10.1177/1074248419877409. Epub 2019 Oct 8.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease, which can be potentially fatal. The management of a complex disease like PAH requires a multidisciplinary approach from a team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers, and pharmacists. Adherence to PAH-specific therapy is one of the key factors in the management of this disease. Poor adherence to treatment is a common problem in PAH as it is in many chronic diseases. Management of medication interruptions is a challenge in patients with PAH that can lead to negative consequences. However, for most PAH-specific drugs, there are no clear guidelines on how to manage temporary or abrupt medication discontinuations. In this review, we summarized the available literature and provide suggestions on how to manage interruptions of PAH-specific therapies.

Keywords: discontinuation; pulmonary arterial hypertension; pulmonary hypertension; treatment; treatment interruption.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Arterial Pressure / drug effects*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Medication Adherence
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / mortality
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Artery / drug effects*
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents