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more_legal_areas PPHRemodulin was approved in May 2002 for the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Made by United Therapeutics, Remodulin has been shown to effectively treat PPH in some patients. Since doctors have learned all PPH patients respond differently to medicines that dilate or relax blood vessels, Remodulin may have limited effectiveness for some PPH patients. The absence of a PPH cure makes it essential to identify a treatment that will allow for a more manageable and enjoyable life.
There is still very little known about PPH. The actual incidence of PPH, the exact causes of PPH, and a cure for PPH all remain a mystery. Remodulin injection is a subcutaneous infusion that is intended to reduce PPH symptoms associated with physical activity, such as shortness of breath. As difficult as treating PPH is, many patients will not even learn they have PPH until later stages. PPH is rarely ever found during a routine medical examination, and even when PPH has progressed, symptoms are often confused with other conditions.
One of the first signs of PPH is frequent tiredness. Cases of PPH have been linked to the use of appetite suppressants, such as fen phen, so in these instances PPH can easily be mistaken for being overweight. Difficulty in breathing, dizziness, swelling in the ankles or legs, bluish lips and skin, and chest pain can be experienced. Frequently, PPH patients will complain they are having difficulty getting enough air.
Remodulin has been found to be the most effective in treating the PPH symptom dyspnea, or shortness of breath. When the FDA approved Remodulin, clinical studies were still ongoing to further understand potential benefits of the drug. A post-marketing, phase IV clinical Remodulin trial was also expected to begin. The most frequent Remodulin side effect experienced in clinical trials was infusion site pain and infusion site reaction. The two Remodulin side effects were experienced by over 80 percent of the subjects, however at a 2004 American College of Cardiology meeting, long-term data showed that just two percent of the study cohorts ceased Remodulin therapy because of side effects.
It has been estimated that 300 new cases of PPH are diagnosed each year, but this number is argued to be a far cry from the actual number. Since PPH is so difficult to diagnose, many estimate that a large number of people do not even realize that they are being affected by the rare lung disorder. Although there are many different factors linked to the cause of PPH, the increase in diet pill consumers may also account for an increase in PPH cases.
The use of certain supplements continues to be linked to PPH, and there are estimates that using diet drugs can cause a ten fold risk of the disorder. The greatest number of PPH cases have been reported in women between the ages of 21 and 40, but PPH can affect any gender, age, or race equally. Remodulin, as well as other PPH drugs, must be tried on the individual patient for effectiveness. Different drugs must first be used before long-term PPH treatment begins and the amount and type of medication during the course of the disease may continue to change as different methods become more or less effective.