[The use of aspirin in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension].

AIM

To investigate aspirin efficacy in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) after a course of prostaglandin E-1 (PE) treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

12 PPH patients (mean age 35.7 +/- 2.5 years) having the disease for 6.7 +/- 1.1 years were assigned to a 6-month course of aspirin treatment in a dose 100 mg/day in combination with calcium antagonist isradipin. All the patients have previously undergone 21-day PE treatment (vasaprostan). Before and after the treatment, the patients were examined clinically and biochemically.

RESULTS

As shown by ECG, chest x-ray, bicycle exercise, aspirin used in combination with isradipin led to stabilization of the disease. Platelet aggregation also remained stable, thromboxan B2 and endothelin-1 levels went down. Low doses of aspirin allowed to avoid side effects typical for this drug.

CONCLUSION

Use of aspirin in a dose 100 mg/day in combination with calcium antagonists to treat primary pulmonary hypertension is justified.