[Hemodynamic effects of intravenous amiodarone in humans]

The haemodynamic action of I-V Cordarone have been studied in 20 subjects over a 15 minute period. Over the 15 minute period we studied variations in left pulmonary and ventricular pressures, in cardiac output, and in the paramaters of contraction VEC max, V max and Taylor's index. At a dose of 5 mg/kg there is a fall in peripheral resistance (1274 +/- 232 to 915 dynes/s/cm-5), and the measurements of contraction hardly vary. At a dose of 10 mg/kg, after an initial increase in output and a fall in peripheral resistance there occurs, after 4 minutes, an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (from 6 +/- 2 to 13 +/- 4 mmHg, P less than 0.01), and a lowering of contractility (VEC max reduced from 49.7 +/- 12.4 to 27.1 +/- 3.8, P less than 0.001). We have shown that the first phase of this response is due to the solvent (Tween 80), while the fall in contractility is due to the amiodarone. Doses above 10 mg/kg must be used with care, and only if there is no evidence of impaired cardiac function.