Cumulative Distribution Functions of Sildenafil Citrate on Exercise Capacity and Hemodynamic Function in Children with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is an ultimately fatal condition characterized by reduced exercise capacity and impaired hemodynamic parameters. Although these relationships are well described in adults with PAH, they are not characterized in pediatric populations.

Commentary on Rosenthalet al. (2013): Buprenorphine implant-new hopes, old questions

“…The cumulative distribution function (CDF) curves showing proportions of patients successful (or otherwise) for the entire range of possible cut-off criteria for success (percentages of urine samples negative for opioids) were significantly different between BI and PI. The use of CDF, rather than a pre-specified arbitrary definition of a 'responder' to treatment as someone who returns an 'x%' of opioid-negative urine samples, is innovative, informative and underutilized in medical research [8]. Visual inspection of the CDF curves shows that the BI-PI difference was most pronounced when a 'responder' was one who returned 30% or more opioid-negative urine samples.…”