American heart journal
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American heart journal · Apr 1982
Sympathomimetic amines: potential clinical applications in ischemic heart disease.
Sympathomimetic amines are useful in the treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease complicated by heart failure and shock. These agents influence the cardiovascular system by action on alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, and dopamine receptors. Recent evidence has demonstrated the existence of subtypes of the classic adrenergic and dopamine receptors that mediate distinct physiologic effects. ⋯ Two classes of sympathomimetic amines are being intensively investigated at present: (1) compounds acting predominantly on beta 1-adrenergic receptors (i.e., they increase cardiac contractile force with little or no peripheral vascular effects) and (2) compounds acting on both beta 1-adrenergic and dopamine receptors. Orally active compounds of these two classes have been synthesized recently and are now under study for the treatment of patients with heart failure. Results of preliminary studies with such components are briefly reviewed.
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American heart journal · Sep 1981
ReviewCombined vasodilator and inotropic therapy of heart failure: experimental and clinical concepts.
Vasodilators facilitate ventricular emptying by affording earlier onset of left ventricular (LV) ejection and increased stroke volume with achievement of a reduced end-systolic pressure and volume. Agents with positive inotropic properties increase stroke volume by shifting the end-systolic pressure-volume curve to the left through augmented force and velocity of contraction. With impedence reduction, improvement in pump performance occurs concomitant with reduced cardiac energy requirements (MVO2); positive inotropic agents most circumstances increase MVO2. ⋯ In clinical heart failure, nitroprusside alone lowers LV preload with a modest increase in cardiac output (CO); dopamine markedly increases CO with little fall in LV preload. In combination the two agents achieve the individual beneficial effects of each drug, and cardiac efficiency indices are improved. Thus combined vasodilator and inotropic therapy appears to have a sound physiologic rationale and clinically documented beneficial effect superior to either modality alone.