• Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• PPH Symptoms
• PPH Diagnosis
• PPH Causes
• PPH Treatment
  • Ambrisentan
  • Tracleer
  • Flolan
  • Remodulin
  • Prostacyclin
  • Lung Transplants
  • Thelin
• Diet Drugs and PPH
• Legal Remedies for PPH

Prostacyclin PPH Treatment

Prostacyclin, known generically as epoprostenol, is used to treat the symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). This drug belongs to a group of chemicals called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins occur naturally in the body and regulate many bodily functions. Prostacyclin is a type of prostaglandin that blocks platelet production and thus reduces blood clotting. PPH patients are known to have reduced Prostacyclin in their blood streams.

During primary pulmonary hypertension, the smaller blood vessels in the lungs become more resistant to blood flow. This increased resistance results in a higher arterial pressure in the pulmonary artery. The right ventricle of the heart must work harder to pump blood into the lungs. Prostacyclin works by relaxing the blood vessels in the lungs and increasing the blood supply to the lungs, thus reducing the workload of the heart.

Two types of Prostacyclin drugs are available, Flolan and Remodulin. Flolan is a natural form or Prostacyclin while Remodulin is a synthetic form.

Legal Remedies Available to PPH Patients

While sometimes the cause of PPH cannot be explained, in many cases this perilous condition is caused by certain diet drugs, such as Fen Phen and Redux. In these instances, PPH victims might be able to hold the manufacturers of the dangerous drugs financially liable through personal injury litigation. Patients who suspect that their disease has been caused by diet drugs should contact experienced lawyers as soon as possible because personal injury lawsuits often have to be initiated within certain time limits. Establishing a good working relationship with a reliable attorney is very important for PPH patients as their condition makes them more prone to suffer car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents and other events requiring legal assistance. To provide representation in situations involving various areas of law, PPH personal injury attorneys sometimes recommend other lawyers who practice as car accident lawyers, DUI attorneys and family law specialists.

Last Revision: July 6, 2009

MediaFact is a major online resource about drug side effects connected with Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.