Managing PAH
A serious and potentially devastating chronic disorder of the pulmonary circulation is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition that is difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat.
Untreated, it is characterised by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death.
Epoprostenol helps improve symptoms, exercise capacity, and haemodynamics and is reported to improve survival in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in a randomised study. Long-term persistence of efficacy has also been reported.
Epoprostenol sodium (FLOLAN®) is indicated for the long-term treatment, via continuous IV infusion, in New York Heart Association functional class III or class IV patients with:
o Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
o Familial pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with the scleroderma spectrum of diseases.
Directions for Use
• FLOLAN® should be used only by clinicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of PAH.
• FLOLAN® must be reconstituted before use and may be used as concentrated solution or in a diluted form for the treatment of PPH.
• Short-term dose-ranging with FLOLAN® must be performed in a hospital setting with adequate personnel and equipment of haemodynamic monitoring and emergency care.
• FLOLAN® is infused through a permanent indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) via a small, portable infusion pump.
• Patients must receive ongoing patient education and be instructed in, and committed to, sterile drug reconstitution, drug administration, and care of the CVC.