Central and peripheral adrenergic receptor agonists in heart failure

The subtypes of alpha- and beta- and dopaminergic receptors have been identified along with specific agonists and antagonists. The effects of alpha-receptor agonists on haemodynamics results from the interaction of relative changes in vascular tone and increase in myocardial contractility. Predominantly, beta 1 agonists improve cardiac performance by increasing contractility which is usually accompanied by increased myocardial oxygen consumption. Dopaminergic receptor agonists improve left ventricular function primarily by reduction in systemic vascular resistance usually without a change in myocardial oxygen consumption. beta 2-receptor agonists improve cardiac function both by increasing contractility and by peripheral vasodilation usually without an increase in metabolic cost. The effects of various adrenoreceptor agonists such as dobutamine, dopamine, prenalterol, levodopa and dopexamine on systemic and coronary haemodynamics and on myocardial energetics in heart failure are reviewed.