A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind, and Non-inferiority Clinical Trial to Compare the Efficacy of Sequential to Initial Combination Therapy in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind, and non-inferiority clinical trial to compare the efficacy of sequential to initial combination therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Ambrisentan and Tadalafil will be used in the study. Our research hypothesis is that the efficacy of sequential combination therapy in PAH patients is not inferior to the initial combination therapy as the primary efficacy endpoint is the change in 6MWD at month 12 from baseline.
• Age between 18 to 80 years and weight ≥ 40 kg.
• WHO functional classification I-III.
• Diagnosed with PAH caused or related to the following:
⁃ 1\) Idiopathic PAH 2) Hereditary PAH 3) Associated PAH:
• Connective tissue diseases (e.g., scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, etc.)
• Drug or toxin exposure
• Corrected congenital heart diseases for more than 1 year (e.g., atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus) 4. Risk stratification assessed as low-risk or intermediate-risk according to the 2022 ESC/ERS guidelines.
• 5\. Right heart catheterization meets the following criteria (end-expiratory data, original waveform must be retained for quality control):
• 1\) Mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mmHg 2) Pulmonary vascular resistance ≥ 3 Wood units 3) Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) ≤ 15 mmHg 4) Cardiac output measurement requirements: thermal dilution or direct Fick method; indirect Fick method does not meet study criteria.
• 6\. Pulmonary function tests meet the following criteria:
• 1) Total lung capacity (TLC) ≥ 60% of the predicted normal value; 2) Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) ≥ 55% of the predicted normal value; 3) DLCO\_SB ≥ 40% of the predicted normal value. 7. Baseline 6MWD more than 100 meters repeated twice at screening (measured at least 4 hours apart, but no longer than 1 week), and both values are within 15% of each other (calculated from the highest value) 8. In a resting state, without supplemental oxygen, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) ≥ 88%.
• 9\. No participation in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation training programs within 12 weeks prior to the screening visit.
• 10\. Females of childbearing potential must agree to use contraception until the end of the study.
• 11\. No participation in clinical studies involving other investigational drugs or devices throughout the study duration.
• 12\. Ability to understand the informed consent form and sign it.