RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of epoprostenol (prostacyclin) and tolazoline.
JF British Heart Journal
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 141
OP 148
DO 10.1136/hrt.60.2.141
VO 60
IS 2
A1 Bush, A
A1 Busst, C M
A1 Knight, W B
A1 Shinebourne, E A
YR 1988
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/60/2/141.abstract
AB The haemodynamic effects of infusion of epoprostenol (prostacyclin) and bolus injection of tolazoline were compared in a crossover study in 11 children with pulmonary hypertension caused by pulmonary vascular disease. The children were studied during cardiac catheterisation, while they were anaesthetised, paralysed, and ventilated with 100% oxygen. The order of drug administration was not randomised because tolazoline has a half life of hours whereas epoprostenol has a half life of a few minutes. Both drugs caused pulmonary and systemic vasodilatation, and there were no significant differences between the two. The 95% confidence intervals suggest that tolazoline did not have a clinically important haemodynamic advantage over epoprostenol. Previous reports suggest that serious side effects are common when tolazoline is used in repeated doses; epoprostenol has only a few minor side effects that are rapidly reversible when the infusion is stopped. Epoprostenol is more expensive than tolazoline but this study suggests that epoprostenol is a more suitable pulmonary vasodilator if more than a single dose is required.