Evaluation of respiratory muscular force (RMF) and quality of life (QL) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) before and after pharmacologic treatment

Introduction: Despite numerous studies on drug therapy, little is known about its effects on respiratory muscle function and QL in PAH patients. Aim: Evaluate RMF and QL of patients with PAH before and after specific pharmacologic treatment (bosentan or sildenafil, agents currently approved for treatment of PAH in Brazil). Methodology: Descriptive, prospective study of PAH patients evaluated at 3 moments: T0, baseline; T1, from 2 to 4 months after the onset of specific treatment and T2, 4 months after T1. In each time, patients were functionally classified according to the NYHA criteria modified for PH, submitted to 6MWT, RMF measurement, and SF-36 questionnaire for QL. Test t of Student for samples not pared was used. Results: 22 patients, mean age = 48,2±15,4 yrs (range, 19-81), mean pulmonary arterial pressure = 49,3±18,5 mmHg. View this table: Table 1 Conclusion: The results suggest that 6 months of specific pharmacologic treatment does not ameliorate the respiratory muscular function in PAH patients, but might gradually improve the QL in patients with idiopathic PAH.