Sympathomimetic amines: potential clinical applications in ischemic heart disease

Sympathomimetic amines are useful in the treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease complicated by heart failure and shock. These agents influence the cardiovascular system by action on alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, and dopamine receptors. Recent evidence has demonstrated the existence of subtypes of the classic adrenergic and dopamine receptors that mediate distinct physiologic effects. The relative actions of sympathomimetic amines on these receptors differ substantially, resulting in considerable variation in their cardiac and peripheral vascular effects. Two classes of sympathomimetic amines are being intensively investigated at present: (1) compounds acting predominantly on beta 1-adrenergic receptors (i.e., they increase cardiac contractile force with little or no peripheral vascular effects) and (2) compounds acting on both beta 1-adrenergic and dopamine receptors. Orally active compounds of these two classes have been synthesized recently and are now under study for the treatment of patients with heart failure. Results of preliminary studies with such components are briefly reviewed.