Comparison of hemodynamic changes induced by adenosine monophosphate and sodium nitroprusside alone and during...

Adenosine receptor stimulation, such as by adenosine monophosphate (AMP), elicits systemic vasodilation that may be useful to control cardiac afterload during treatment of acute low-output cardiac failure. This study compared the hemodynamic effects of graded doses of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) with those of AMP when infused alone or in combination with the positive inotropic agent dopamine (DA) in anesthetized dogs. Both SNP (2-25 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) and AMP (200-2500 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) were effective vasodilators and reduced systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure in a dose-dependent manner. Heart rate and cardiac index were increased by both agents. When compared at dosages that caused similar decreases in arterial pressure, cardiac index was increased more by AMP than by SNP. Also, AMP-induced vasodilation was associated with less tachyphylaxis. Sodium nitroprusside and AMP, at the dosages used, did not depress atrioventricular nodal conduction or antagonize DA-induced increases in renal blood flow. At equivalent decreases in mean arterial pressure, the increase from baseline in cardiac and stroke indices observed with AMP alone was further increased by the concomitant administration of DA. These results suggest that AMP and DA-AMP may offer significant advantages over SNP or DA-SNP in situations where elevation of cardiac output and reduction in afterload are required.