Haemodynamic effects of intravenous amrinone in patients with impaired left ventricular function

The effects of intravenous amrinone on resting haemodynamic function were investigated in 15 patients with impaired left ventricular function. All patients received 1 X 5 mg/kg and 10 received a further 2 mg/kg. We observed dose related increases in heart rate and cardiac index, and reductions in mean arterial pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and systemic vascular resistance. A small reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic volume and a 36% increase in ejection fraction occurred. No significant change in max dp/dt, min dp/dt, (Max dp/dt/P), max (dp/dt/P), KVmax or the ratio of left ventricular end-systolic pressure to left ventricular end-systolic volume was detected. It is concluded that the beneficial effects of intravenous amrinone on the resting haemodynamics in our patients were attributable to vasodilatation, with the drug having no demonstrable positive inotropic effect.