Inhaled Iloprost for Disproportionate Pulmonary Hypertension in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Pulmonary hypertension is frequently present in COPD and it is generally limited to a mild increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure. However some COPD patients are characterized by higher levels of mPAP at rest, fulfilling the definition of moderate or severe PH disproportionate PH . In these patients the elevated pulmonary pressures adversely affect the prognosis.At the present time the evidence for the the use of specific pulmonary vasodilators in the management of these patients are scarce and cannot be recommended.the aim of this study is to evaluate the medium term efficacy and safety of the inhaled prostacyclin stable analog, iloprost in patients with COPD and moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension