[Enoximone as pharmacologic "bridging" to heart transplantation]

The efficacy of enoximone (EN), a new phosphodiesterase inhibitor, was studied in 24 patients (pts.) with end-stage cardiac disease due to dilative cardiomyopathy (21 pts.) or coronary heart disease (3 pts.). All pts. admitted for urgent transplantation or mechanical circulatory support demonstrated advanced cardiac failure unresponsive to conventional pharmacotherapy. Despite maximal catecholamine and vasodilator therapy the cardiac index averaged 2.08 l/min per m2, the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) 24 mmHg, and the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) 1450 dyn* s* cm-5. In addition to the previous sympathomimetic medication EN was administered as a bolus injection of 1 mg/kg followed by a continuous infusion of 4 to 10 micrograms/kg/min. In all but 4 non-responding pts., who eventually died, clinical and hemodynamic conditions improved significantly within 4 h: CI increased from 2.08 to 3.1 l/min/m2, PCWP dropped from 24 to 17 mmHg, and SVR decreased from 1450 to 950 dyn* s* cm-5 (all p less than 0.05). After initial improvement, 9 pts. experienced acute hemodynamic and clinical deterioration leading to implantation of a biventricular-assist device (Berlin Heart) in 6 pts., while 3 pts. died of irreversible cardiogenic shock. However, of the remaining 15 pts., who demonstrated sustained hemodynamic improvement, 11 could be weaned off their adrenergic medication and remained on oral EN (1.0 to 1.5 mg/kg TID). Three pts. received heart transplants within 8 to 12 weeks; 7 pts. were still on the waiting list at the end of the study, and 1 pt. died after withdrawal of oral EN.2