• Caio J C S Fernandes, Bruno A Dias, Jardim Carlos V P CVP Cardio-Pulmonary Department, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil., Andre Hovnanian, Susana Hoette, Luciana K Morinaga, Silvia Souza, Milena Suesada, Ana P Breda, and Rogério Souza.
• Cardio-Pulmonary Department, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: cjcfernandes@yahoo.com.br.
• Chest. 2012 Apr 1; 141 (4): 923-928.

BackgroundSchistosomiasis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (Sch-PAH) may be one of the most prevalent forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) worldwide. However, the clinical and hemodynamical response to specific PAH therapy in Sch-PAH is not known.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the charts of all patients with Sch-PAH who initiated specific PAH treatment between June 2003 and June 2010 in a single PAH reference center in São Paulo, Brazil. Clinical and hemodynamical data were retrospectively collected and evaluated in two periods: baseline and posttreatment.ResultsThe study population consisted of 12 patients with Sch-PAH. They were treated with phosphodiseterase-5 inhibitors (seven patients), endothelin receptor antagonists (four patients), or combination therapy (one patient). Mean treatment period was 34.9 ± 15.5 months. Patients with Sch-PAH presented significant improvements in terms of functional class, 6-min walk test distance (439 ± 85 to 492 ± 79 m, P = .032), cardiac index (2.66 ± 0.59 to 3.08 ± 0.68 L/min/m(2), P = .028), and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (20.7 ± 11.6 to 15.9 ± 9 W/m(2), P = .038) with the introduction of specific PAH treatment.ConclusionsWe conclude that specific PAH therapy may be of benefit to patients with Sch-PAH, considering clinical, functional, and hemodynamic parameters.

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