[Rational use of catecholamines and inotropes]

Acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) are a growing health problem in Western Countries. Standard treatment includes vasodilators and diuretics, however, the subgroup of patients with AHFS and low cardiac output state represents a special therapeutic challenge that is complicated by high in-hospital and post-discharge mortality and by requiring additional i. v. inotropic support. The current inotropes in use are adrenoreceptor agonists (dopamine, dobutamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine), phosphodiesterase III inhibitors (milrinone, enoximone), and Ca2+ sensitizers (levosimendane). While most inotropes yield short-term haemodynamic improvements, they are associated with increased myocardial oxygen consumption, (supra-) ventricular arrhythmias and possibly increased post-discharge mortality. This review highlights current inotropes used in the treatment of AHFS and introduces new drug developments including myosin activators and Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitors.