The preparation Ambrisentan is prescribed to patients with pulmonary hypertension. In this rare form of high blood pressure, there is only too high pressure in the pulmonary artery. The drug blocks the hormones that cause high blood pressure.
What is ambrisentan?
The preparation ambrisentan is used to treat patients who suffer from pulmonary hypertension. This is a relatively rare form of high blood pressure in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is moderately to severely increased.
Ambrisentan can be used regardless of whether the high blood pressure results from a disease of the connective tissue or the causes have not been clarified. The drug belongs to the relatively new group of endothelin receptor antagonists within the blood pressure reducer.
Like all active substances in this group, ambrisentan is prescribed when the increased blood pressure can damage other organs. If the cause of the pulmonary high blood pressure is known, this is primarily treated, while ambrisentan can be administered as a supplement.
Pharmacological effect
The preparation ambrisentan attacks directly where the high blood pressure arises, namely at the hormonal level. Endothelial hormones cause the blood vessels to contract.These hormones are mainly formed in the innermost cells of blood vessels.
The hormone endothelin-1 has a particularly strong influence on the cardiovascular system. The hormone causes its effect by binding to the endothelin A receptor, which plays an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension. The receptors to which the hormone docks are mostly on the muscle cells of blood vessels and on the heart muscle. Ambrisentan works by sitting on the ETA receptors, thus making it impossible for endothelin-1 to bind to the receptor.
Thus, all effects of the hormone are switched off. In addition to narrowing the blood vessels, this can also lead to a growth of cells in the inner skin of the vessels. On the other hand, ambrisentan does not adhere to receptors such as the ETB receptor. The production of porstacyclin and nitric oxide, which cause the vessels to relax, is therefore unaffected by the active ingredient.
Medical application & use
The preparation ambrisentan is only prescribed if patients suffer from high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. Blood pressure is lowered by turning off the body's own hormones that increase blood pressure. We speak of high blood pressure when several measurements show elevated values after a state of previous rest.
In an adult human, a systolic value greater than 140 mmHG or a diastolic value greater than 90 mmHG is the limit between normal value and high blood pressure. Those affected who suffer from high blood pressure usually notice no symptoms. If so, they often suffer from visual disturbances, headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, nosebleeds or a feeling of pressure over the heart. If high blood pressure is left untreated for years, damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys and brain can occur. Severe kidney disorders, arteriosclerosis, strokes or a heart attack can occur as a direct result of high blood pressure.
If you notice the symptoms mentioned more often, you should have them examined by your family doctor. In addition, blood pressure should be measured regularly as part of routine examinations. If high blood pressure occurs during pregnancy, it must be treated as soon as possible, otherwise seizures can occur, which can lead to life-threatening conditions and possibly also affect the unborn child.
Risks & side effects
Ambrisentan must not be used in pregnant women or if the patients suffer from liver dysfunction or pulmonary fibrosis. The most common side effects of the preparation include headache, fluid retention in the body and fluid retention in the arms and legs.
Other side effects that can commonly occur affect the cardiovascular system, such as low blood pressure or heart failure. Colds, inflammation in the nose and throat, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation and diarrhea are also mentioned. The liver enzyme values can also increase due to the active ingredient.
Occasionally, inflammation of the liver may occur, which in this case is an autoimmune disease. If water builds up in the lungs during therapy with Ambrisentan, a doctor must clarify whether there is a possible blockage of veins.
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