Reduction of acute pulmonary hypertension by prostacyclin.

Acute pulmonary hypertension was produced in anaesthetized dogs by inflating a balloon in a major branch of the pulmonary artery. Intravenous infusion of prostacyclin lead to a dose-related decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure. Heart rate and cardiac output did not change significantly. There was a concomitant, but more variable decrease in the systemic arterial pressure. Respiratory rate increased significantly. It is concluded that prostacyclin may offer a therapeutic potential in diseases accompanied by pulmonary hypertension, when it is not associated with significant arterial hypotension.