[Hemodynamic effects of intravenous perfusion of amrinone in increasing doses in 12 patients with severe heart decompensation]. / Effets hémodynamiques d'une perfusion intraveineuse d'amrinone à doses croissantes chez douze patients en décompensation cardiaque sévère.

ABSTRACT

Twelve patients with severe heart failure were given amrinone by intravenous infusion in doses rising from 1 to 2, 3 and 4 mg X min-1, the interval between each dose being 30 min. The total cumulative dose was 300 mg over 120 min. Haemodynamic measurements were started the day before treatment to take into account nycthemeral fluctuations in haemodynamics and the possible effects of maintenance treatments and meals, all factors which might influence the baseline values. When given at a rate of more than 2 mg X min-1, amrinone significantly improved cardiac function (p less than 0.001). The mean pulmonary capillary pressure fell from 24.1 +/- 5.3 to 13.7 +/- 8.6 mmHg, and the cardiac index rose from 1.75 +/- 0.40 to 2.51 +/- 0.32 1 X min-1 X m-2. Heart rate and blood pressure were not significantly modified. No adverse reaction was observed during the infusion and the following 24 hours. Thus, intravenous amrinone proved effective in patients with severe heart failure, with maximal effects being obtained in doses of 3 mg X min-1.