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. 1988 Aug;60(2):141–148. doi: 10.1136/hrt.60.2.141

Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of epoprostenol (prostacyclin) and tolazoline.

A Bush 1, C M Busst 1, W B Knight 1, E A Shinebourne 1
PMCID: PMC1216537  PMID: 3046646

Abstract

The haemodynamic effects of infusion of epoprostenol (prostacyclin) and bolus injection of tolazoline were compared in a crossover study in 11 children with pulmonary hypertension caused by pulmonary vascular disease. The children were studied during cardiac catheterisation, while they were anaesthetised, paralysed, and ventilated with 100% oxygen. The order of drug administration was not randomised because tolazoline has a half life of hours whereas epoprostenol has a half life of a few minutes. Both drugs caused pulmonary and systemic vasodilatation, and there were no significant differences between the two. The 95% confidence intervals suggest that tolazoline did not have a clinically important haemodynamic advantage over epoprostenol. Previous reports suggest that serious side effects are common when tolazoline is used in repeated doses; epoprostenol has only a few minor side effects that are rapidly reversible when the infusion is stopped. Epoprostenol is more expensive than tolazoline but this study suggests that epoprostenol is a more suitable pulmonary vasodilator if more than a single dose is required.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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