Table 2.

Prostaglandin-induced pulmonary vasodilation in acute pulmonary embolism.

Treatment	Experimental microsphere/glass beads/air PE	Experimental autologous (blood, fat, muscle, collagen) PE	Case reports	Clinical trials	Guideline recommendation
Prostaglandins	Positive effects on PAP, PVR and lung function.80,143,156–158 No effects compared to NO.66 Risk of side effects153	Lowers mPAP and PVR.25,146,151,154,155 Risk of side effects or no pulmonary effects.79,88,152,153	Eight PE cases160–162 One case with CO2-embolism159 One newborn with no effect105	14 Patients randomized to intravenous epoprostenol or placebo, no effect163	No recommendations4,16

Note: Summary of review of the different prostaglandins causing pulmonary vasodilation in acute pulmonary embolism. Divided by animal or clinical data and guideline recommendation. Please see text for further details.

mPAP: mean pulmonary arterial pressure; NO: nitric oxide; PAP: pulmonary artery pressure; PE: pulmonary embolism; PVR: pulmonary vascular resistance.