Initial experience with fenoldopam in children

Fenoldopam is a direct-acting vasodilator that acts at the postsynaptic dopamine 1 receptors in renal, coronary, cerebral, and splanchnic vasculature resulting in arterial dilation and a lowering of the mean arterial pressure (MAP). Preliminary evidence suggests its efficacy in the treatment of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies in adults. We present four children in whom fenoldopam was used to control MAP in various clinical scenarios, including hypertensive emergencies and urgencies, intraoperative reduction of MAP for controlled hypotension, and control of MAP during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The possible applications of fenoldopam and suggested dosing regimens in children are reviewed.