Background & Objective
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the most important and the most common complication in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia and its cardiac involvement is the main cause of death in these patients. This study was conducted to assess the effect of tadalafil on pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular function in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia.
Methods-Materials
44 patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia were inducted in the study based on the maximum amount of a normal pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and the tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), which is the threshold for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency and also patients who are treated with organic nitrates or alpha-blockers were excluded. And then patients were randomly divided into two groups of 22 patients and were treated for 6 weeks with tadalafil capsules (40 mg daily) or placebo capsules (containing lactose) that were same in weight, size and shape. PASP, TRV and variables related to systolic and diastolic function of the right ventricle (TAPSE, S′ and E / E’) were measured by TTE before and after treatment and finally were analyzed.
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