Rapid inpatient titration of intravenous treprostinil for pulmonary arterial hypertension: Safe and tolerable

Karim El-Kersh, Kathryn M. Ruf, J. Shaun Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is no standard protocol for intravenous treprostinil dose escalation. In most cases, slow uptitration is performed in the outpatient setting. However, rapid up-titration in an inpatient setting is an alternative that provides opportunity for aggressive treatment of common side effects experienced during dose escalation. In this study, we describe our experience with inpatient rapid uptitration of intravenous treprostinil. This was a single-center, retrospective study in which we reviewed the data of subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension treated at our center who underwent inpatient rapid up-titration of intravenous treprostinil. Our treprostinil dose escalation protocol included initiation at 2 ng kg21 min21 with subsequent up-titration by 1 ng kg21 min21 every 6 to 8 hours as tolerated by side effects. A total of 16 subjects were identified. Thirteen subjects were treprostinil naive (naive group), and 3 subjects were receiving subcutaneous treprostinil but were hospitalized for further intravenous up-titration of treprostinil dose (nonnaive group). In the naive group, the median maximum dose achieved was 20 ng kg21 min21 with an interquartile range (IQR) of 20-23 ng kg21 min21. The median up-titration interval was 6 days (IQR: 4-9). In the nonnaive group, the median maximum dose achieved was 20 ng kg21 min21 (range: 17-30). The median up-titration interval was 8.5 days (range: 1.5-11). Overall, the median maximum dose achieved was 20 ng kg21 min21 (IQR: 20-23.5), and the median up-titration interval was 6 days (IQR: 4.6-9.25), with no reported significant adverse hemodynamic events. In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, rapid inpatient titration of intravenous treprostinil is safe and tolerable.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E213-E217
JournalAmerican journal of therapeutics
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 18 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Intravenous treprostinil
  • Pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • Rapid titration of treprostinil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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