Open AccessREVIEW: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: An Overview
Author(s) -
Raja Shahzad G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cardiovascular therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1755-5922
pISSN - 1755-5914
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-5922.2010.00158.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endothelin receptor , pulmonary hypertension , endothelin receptor antagonist , pharmacotherapy , vasodilation , hemodynamics , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , cardiology , receptor
The last decade has seen major advances in the pharmacotherapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). One of these advances has been the discovery of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs). ERAs are a class of potent vasodilators and antimitotic substances, which could specifically dilate and remodel pulmonary arterial system, and have been proposed as an alternative to traditional therapies for PAH. Current available evidence suggests that ERAs improve exercise capacity, functional status, pulmonary hemodynamics, and delay the time to clinical worsening for patients with PAH. This review attempts to provide an overview of the pharmacology, therapeutic benefits, and safety profile of ERAs in patients with PAH.