Adjunctive tadalafil therapy for managing pulmonary hypertension in a patient with obesity hypoventilation syndrome

J Cardiol Cases. 2011 Jul 23;4(2):e126-e128. doi: 10.1016/j.jccase.2011.06.004. eCollection 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is often associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure therapy is indicated as first-line treatment. However, its effect in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure is insufficient in many cases, thus adjunctive therapies should be evaluated. In this report, we present a patient with OHS-associated PH who was successfully treated by tadalafil in conjunction with weight reduction and bi-level positive airway pressure therapy.

Keywords: Hypoxia; Obesity hypoventilation syndrome; Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor; Pulmonary hypertension.