Nitric oxide and molsidomine in the management of pulmonary hypertension in Takayasu's arteritis

We present three patients with pulmonary hypertension in Takayasu's arterit is who showed long-term favorable response, clinically and hemodynamically, to nitric oxide donor molsidomine. In these patients, nitric oxide inhalat ion was effective in reducing pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), Molsidomine (single dose of 4 mg po) was also e ffective in reducing PAP and PVR, but nifedipine was not. With molsidomine, 4 mg rid, dyspnea, exercise capacity, and hemodynamic parameters were impr oved. These favorable responses have lasted during the 3-month follow-up pe riod in all patients.