Treatment of schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary hypertension

J Bras Pneumol. 2011 Mar-Apr;37(2):272-6. doi: 10.1590/s1806-37132011000200018.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Schistosomiasis mansoni is the third most prevalent endemic parasitic disease in the world. It is estimated that over 200 million people are infected with parasites belonging to one of the Schistosoma species. Of those, 270,000 people (4.6%) suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is associated with the hepatosplenic form of the disease. This high prevalence makes schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary hypertension the leading cause of pulmonary hypertension worldwide. However, no specific treatment for the pulmonary vascular component of the disease has yet been devised. We report the case of a patient with schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary hypertension who was treated satisfactorily with a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (sildenafil).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / parasitology
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Purines / therapeutic use
  • Schistosomiasis / complications*
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Sulfones / therapeutic use*
  • Walking / physiology

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Sulfones
  • Sildenafil Citrate