[Hemodynamic effects of amrinone on cardiopulmonary decompensated chronic cor pulmonale]

Amrinone was given intravenously combined with the routine treatment to 10 patients with late chronic cor pulmonale in exacerbation stage. The initial loading dose was 1.5-2 mg/kg followed by the maintenance dose of 15 micrograms/kg. min for 6 hours. Hemodynamic and blood gas monitoring showed that pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index, right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased significantly and maintained the level markedly below baseline after amrinone administration (the extents decreased were 0.53-1.1 kPa, 80-140 dyn.s.m2.cm-5, 0.27-0.40 kPa and 0.40-0.67 kPa respectively. P < 0.05 for each parameter) and that cardiac index and stroke volume index increased identically (the extents increased were 0.3-0.6 L/min.m2 and 2-4 ml/beat.m2 respectively, P < 0.05 for each parameter). There were no significant changes in systemic artery pressure, arterial blood gas analysis and blood platelet count after amrinone administration. We suggest that amrinone may be effective in the treatment of cardio-pulmonary decompensated chronic cor pulmonale.