[The hemodynamic profile of amrinone and enoximone in patients with severe heart failure]

Hemodynamic measurements were done in 42 patients with congestive heart failure of NYHA classes III and IV after administration of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors amrinone und enoximone. Amrinone decreases mean arterial pressure (-4%), right atrial pressure (-39%), and systemic vascular resistance (-23%), while cardiac index and stroke volume index increase to 27% and 26%, respectively; heart rate is nearly unchanged. Enoximone administration in a dose of 1 mg/kg bw produces an increase in cardiac index of 13%, an increase in heart rate of 12%, and a decrease of systemic vascular resistance of 13%, whereas stroke volume index is unchanged. Enoximone in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg bw increases heart rate (+ 9%), cardiac index (+ 33%), and stroke volume index (+ 21%), and decreases systemic vascular resistance (-26%). The hemodynamic profile of amrinone and enoximone in an equal dose shows only slight differences. Furthermore, phosphodiesterase inhibitors produce an increase of cardiac index (+ 19%) and stroke volume index (+ 17%) in patients with pump failure having already received dopamine and dobutamine.