Add-on therapy with subcutaneous treprostinil for refractory pediatric pulmonary hypertension

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) treprostinil, a prostacyclin analogue, in young children with refractory pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Study design: Eight children (median age, 4 years) received SC treprostinil therapy after failure of combined oral treatment (n = 7) or because of severe complications with intravenous epoprostenol (n = 1). Treprostinil was delivered through an SC catheter at gradually increasing doses to an average of 40 ng/kg/min, depending on the presence of adverse effects.

Results: Seven patients demonstrated early significant improvement (in functional class, hemodynamics, and/or 6-minute walk distance; P <.05), and 6 had a sustained good response. Site pain could be effectively managed in all but one child.

Conclusions: Treprostinil may be a potentially valuable rescue therapy in children with refractory pulmonary arterial hypertension, but further study in a larger number of patients is needed.