Is Tracleer™ being considered as a treatment for patients having PH secondary to sarcoidosis, scleroderma or other illnesses?
Tracleer™ is currently approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, which includes primary pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary hypertension related to connective tissue diseases, appetite suppressant use, liver disease, HIV infection, congenital heart defects, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Although Tracleer™ is approved for use in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with liver disease, most pulmonary hypertension experts are hesitant to use Tracleer™ in this group of patients given Tracleer™’s potential toxicity to the liver. Tracleer™ is being considered in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with sarcoidosis and other illnesses. However, use of Tracleer™ in these instances would constitute off label use (use of the medication for which it is not approved) and should only be considered in conjunction with a pulmonary hypertension specialist.