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Inclusion Criteria
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1. Screening- Males or females, greater than or equal to 12 years of age and less than or equal to 70 years of age.
2. Screening - Diagnosis of sickle cell disease (including, but not limited to SS, SC, SD, or S-beta zero thalassemia).
3. Screening - Provision of informed consent and, where applicable, assent.
4. Participants with mild to severe pulmonary hypertension, defined as Doppler echocardiography peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) of = 2.7 m/s, and a six minute walk distance of 150-500 meters, were further eligible for the interventional trial.
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Exclusion Criteria
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1. Current pregnancy or lactation.
2. Any one of the following medical conditions:Stroke within the last six weeks.Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism within the last three months.History of retinal detachment or retinal hemorrhage in the last 6 months.Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in one or both eyes.History of sustained priapism requiring medical or surgical treatment, unless currently impotent or on transfusion program within the last two years.Any unstable (chronic or acute) condition that in the opinion of the investigator will prevent completion of the study.
3. Subjects taking nitrate-based vasodilators (including, but not limited to nicorandil [available in the UK only]), prostacyclin (inhaled, subcutaneous or intravenous) or endothelin antagonists. Subjects taking calcium channel blockers will be allowed to participate if they are on a stable dose for greater than or equal to 3 months.
4. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40 percent or clinically significant ischemic, valvular or constrictive heart disease: LVEF less than 40 percent or SF less than 22 percent.
5. Subjects in other research studies with investigational drugs (with the exception of hydroxyurea) unless the other trial has been approved by the walk-PHaSST Executive Committee for co-participation.
6. Acute or chronic impairment (other than dyspnea), limiting the ability to comply with study requirements (in particular with 6MWT), e.g., angina pectoris, intermittent claudication, symptomatic hip osteonecrosis.
7. Tonsillectomies for sleep apnea within 3 months prior to randomization. Active therapy for pulmonary hypertension, including prostacyclin analog, endothelin-1 antagonist, or PDE-5 inhibitor.
8. Protease inhibitor therapy for HIV treatment Subjects taking potent CYP3A4 inhibitor therapy (e.g., itraconazole, ritonavir, ketoconazole) Subjects who are anticoagulated and have proliferative retinopathy (unless they have had ophthalmologist recommended intervention (e.g., phototherapy) or have been cleared by the ophthalmologist to participate in the study.
9. Subjects with systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.
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