ObjectiveTo explore whether nesiritide (recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, rh-BNP) could be used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension.
MethodsA 34-year-old female patient with severe symptomatic idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension was reported, who was refractory to routine therapies, including prostacyclin. Therapy with continuous nesiritide infusion resulted in significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and an improvement in dyspnea. The relevant literature was reviewed.
ResultsThe clinical symptoms of this patient relieved significantly after nesiritide therapy. Literature review showed that nesiritide could increase the production of nitrogen oxides and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the body, so as to dilate the vessels which were shrunk due to hypoxia and low down the pulmonary vascular resistance.
ConclusionNesiritide is useful to treat severe pulmonary artery hypertension, and combination with phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors may be a brand new therapy of value.
