Guazzi et al randomized 44 people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and associated pulmonary hypertension (confirmed by right heart catheterization) to receive the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil or placebo for one year, along with standard therapy. Those in the sildenafil group experienced improvement in cardiac output and reduction in pressures on both the left and right sides of the heart (right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vascular resistance, and wedge pressures). DLCO also improved. Improved diuresis in the treatment group did not appear to be responsible.
After past failures to show a benefit from endothelin antagonists or prostacyclin analogues in PAH due to heart failure, this trial may open the door to wider use of sildenafil for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with associated pulmonary hypertension. However, it’s way too small a sample to draw firm conclusions or change clinical practice.
Wait for results from the larger RELAX trial to help better answer the question of the role of vasodilator therapy for WHO group II pulmonary hypertension (i.e., owing to left heart disease). Circulation 2011;124:164-174.
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[...] vascular disease and could theoretically benefit from pulmonary vasodilator therapy. In fact, a small trial suggested potential benefit of PDE-5 inhibitors in patients with heart failure and a preserved [...]