Sildenafil citrate for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a life-threatening, progressive disease that is characterised by an increase of pulmonary artery pressure leading to right heart failure and death. Conventional therapy (e.g., anticoagulants, diuretics, cardiac glycoside) has until recently represented the mainstay of pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment, but newer specific therapies have become available in the meantime. Among them, are the endothelin receptor antagonists (e.g., bosentan), prostacyclin and prostanoid derivatives (e.g., epoprostenol, iloprost, beraprost, treprostinil) or phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil citrate). Sildenafil citrate has recently been approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy, and the two discussed clinical studies assessed its safety and efficacy.