Twelve-Year Survival in a Patient With Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension on Nifedipine Monotherapy

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive vascular disease with a high mortality rate without proper therapy. Identification of the appropriate treatment for each patient is critical in regard to adverse effects, health care costs, ease of treatment, and the potential for prognostication. Treatment strategies typically begin with acute vasoreactivity testing, which is performed during a right heart catherization. If positive, a calcium channel blocker may work; however, another pulmonary arterial hypertension–specific medication is necessary when testing is negative. Acute vasoreactivity testing is currently recommended to be performed only in certain subgroups of pulmonary arterial hypertension, but not when related to connective tissue disease. In this report, we describe a patient who had systemic sclerosis–related pulmonary arterial hypertension with a positive acute vasoreactivity test result. The patient was placed on calcium channel blocker monotherapy that has been well tolerated for 12 years, resulting in improved symptoms and exercise capacity. The long-term response to calcium channel blocker therapy in systemic sclerosis–associated pulmonary arterial hypertension has not been previously described. In addition, pulmonary artery pressures have been well controlled. The absence of genetic smooth muscle variants prevalent in vasoresponsive idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is also unique.