Case Report

J Rheum Dis 2017; 24(2): 114-118

Published online April 30, 2017

© Korean College of Rheumatology

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is Normalized Following Six Years of Inhaled Iloprost Treatment in a Patient with Systemic Sclerosis

So-Young Yoon, Eun-Soo Yoo, Eun-Jung Yoo, Ju-Yang Jung, Hyoun-Ah Kim, Chang-Hee Suh

Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea

Correspondence to : Chang-Hee Suh, Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 WorldCup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Korea. E-mail:chsuh@aumc.ac.kr

Received: June 24, 2016; Revised: August 9, 2016; Accepted: September 2, 2016

This is a Free Access article, which permits unrestricted non-commerical use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a critical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is a main cause of death. Several treatment modalities for SSc have been identified, with effects that improve quality of life and mortality rates. However, whether these drugs can also normalize pulmonary arterial pressure, remains unclear. Here, we report the case of a woman with diffuse SSc with pulmonary arterial hypertension, who had a functional status equivalent to the New York Heart Association class III. The patient was treated with inhaled iloprost. After six years of inhaled iloprost therapy, echocardiography showed that pulmonary arterial pressure normalized, accompanied by improvement in functional capacity. Inhaled iloprost might not only normalize pulmonary arterial pressure, but also improve the functional status of patients with SSc with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Keywords Systemic sclerosis, Pulmonary hypertension, Iloprost

Article

Case Report

J Rheum Dis 2017; 24(2): 114-118

Published online April 30, 2017 https://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2017.24.2.114

Copyright © Korean College of Rheumatology.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is Normalized Following Six Years of Inhaled Iloprost Treatment in a Patient with Systemic Sclerosis

So-Young Yoon, Eun-Soo Yoo, Eun-Jung Yoo, Ju-Yang Jung, Hyoun-Ah Kim, Chang-Hee Suh

Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea

Correspondence to:Chang-Hee Suh, Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 WorldCup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Korea. E-mail:chsuh@aumc.ac.kr

Received: June 24, 2016; Revised: August 9, 2016; Accepted: September 2, 2016

This is a Free Access article, which permits unrestricted non-commerical use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a critical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is a main cause of death. Several treatment modalities for SSc have been identified, with effects that improve quality of life and mortality rates. However, whether these drugs can also normalize pulmonary arterial pressure, remains unclear. Here, we report the case of a woman with diffuse SSc with pulmonary arterial hypertension, who had a functional status equivalent to the New York Heart Association class III. The patient was treated with inhaled iloprost. After six years of inhaled iloprost therapy, echocardiography showed that pulmonary arterial pressure normalized, accompanied by improvement in functional capacity. Inhaled iloprost might not only normalize pulmonary arterial pressure, but also improve the functional status of patients with SSc with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Keywords: Systemic sclerosis, Pulmonary hypertension, Iloprost

JRD
Jan 01, 2025 Vol.32 No.1, pp. 1~7
COVER PICTURE
Cumulative growth of rheumatology members and specialists (1980~2024). Cumulative distribution of the number of the (A) Korean College of Rheumatology members and (B) rheumatology specialists. (J Rheum Dis 2025;32:63-65)

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