Clinical and hemodynamic improvements after adding ambrisentan to background PDE5i therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension exhibiting a suboptimal therapeutic response (ATHENA-1)

Shelley Shapiro, Fernando Torres, Jeremy Feldman, Anne Keogh, Martine Allard, Christiana Blair, Hunter Gillies, James Tislow, Ronald J. Oudiz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a condition which may lead to right ventricular failure and premature death. While recent data supports the initial combination of ambrisentan (a selective ERA) and tadalafil (a PDE5i) in functional class II or III patients, there is no published data describing the safety and efficacy of ambrisentan when added to patients currently receiving a PDE5i and exhibiting a suboptimal response. The ATHENA-1 study describes the safety and efficacy of the addition of ambrisentan in this patient population. Methods PAH patients with a suboptimal response to current PDE5i monotherapy were assigned ambrisentan in an open-label fashion and evaluated for up to 48 weeks. Cardiopulmonary hemodynamics (change in PVR as primary endpoint) were evaluated at week 24 and functional parameters and biomarkers were measured through week 48. Time to clinical worsening (TTCW) and survival are also described. Results Thirty-three subjects were included in the analysis. At week 24, statistically significant improvements in PVR (−32%), mPAP (−11%), and CI (+25%) were observed. Hemodynamic improvements at week 24 were further supported by improvements in the secondary endpoints: 6-min walk distance (+18 m), NT-proBNP (−31%), and maintenance or improvement in WHO FC in 97% of patients. Adverse events were consistent with known effects of ambrisentan. Conclusion The hemodynamic, functional, and biomarker improvements observed in the ATHENA-1 study suggests that the sequential addition of ambrisentan to patients not having a satisfactory response to established PDE5i monotherapy is a reasonable option.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)84-92
Number of pages9
JournalRespiratory Medicine
Volume126
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2017

Keywords

  • Ambrisentan
  • Combination drug therapy
  • Endothelin A receptor antagonist
  • Outcome assessment
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor
  • Pulmonary Hypertension

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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