Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS A large study evaluating the effect of epoprostenol on survival in NYHA Class III and IV patients with congestive heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction was terminated after an interim analysis of 471 patients revealed a higher mortality in patients receiving epoprostenol plus conventional therapy than in those receiving conventional therapy alone. The chronic use of epoprostenol for injection in patients with congestive heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction is therefore contraindicated. Some patients with pulmonary hypertension have developed pulmonary edema during dose initiation, which may be associated with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Epoprostenol for injection should not be used chronically in patients who develop pulmonary edema during dose initiation. Epoprostenol for injection is also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or to structurally related compounds. Congestive heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (4) Pulmonary edema (4) Hypersensitivity to the drug or to structurally related compounds (4)
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited published data from case series and case reports with epoprostenol have not established a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes when used during pregnancy. There are risks to the mother and fetus from untreated pulmonary arterial hypertension ( see Clinical Considerations ). In animal reproduction studies, pregnant rats and rabbits received epoprostenol sodium during organogenesis at exposures of 2.5 and 4.8 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD), respectively, and there was no effect on the fetus ( see Data ). The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk Pregnant women with untreated pulmonary arterial hypertension are at risk for heart failure, stroke, preterm delivery, and maternal and fetal death. Data Animal Data Embryo-fetal development studies have been performed in rats and rabbits during organogenesis. Epoprostenol sodium doses up to 100 mcg/kg/day, a dose that was maternally toxic in rabbits but not in rats, (600 mcg/m 2 /day in rats, 2.5 times the MRHD, and 1,180 mcg/m 2 /day in rabbits, 4.8 times the MRHD based on body surface area), had no effect on the fetus. In a postnatal development study, epoprostenol sodium was administered subcutaneously to female rats for 2 weeks prior to mating through weaning and to male rats for 60 days prior to and through mating at a male and female toxic dose of up to 100 mcg/kg/day (600 mcg/m 2 /day, 2.5 times the MRHD based on body surface area). There was no effect on growth and development of the offspring.