Hemodynamic, hormonal and electrolyte responses to prenalterol infusion in heart failure

The hemodynamic, hormonal and electrolyte effects of prenalterol, a synthetic selective beta 1 agonist, were studied in six patients with New York Heart Association functional class II and III heart failure. Prenalterol was infused incrementally at 60, 120 and 240 nmol/min, each rate for 24 hours, producing steady-state plasma prenalterol levels of 52 +/- 3, 121 +/- 6 and 194 +/- 9 nmol/1, respectively (mean +/- SEM). Hemodynamic and hormonal measurements were performed before, during and after prenalterol administration under conditions of constant body posture and a regulated intake of dietary sodium and potassium. Prenalterol induced a statistically significant increase in cardiac index (from 2.6 +/- 0.2 to 3.1 +/- 0.3 1/min/m2), with parallel increases in stroke index (from 28 +/- 2 to 34 +/- 2 ml/beat/m2). Forearm blood flow measurements increased (from 2.9 +/- 0.5 to 4.1 +/- 0.6 ml/min/100 g), while calculated systemic vascular resistance fell, as did pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (from 13.7 +/- 1.6 to 10.5 +/- 1.7 mm Hg). The drug did not alter heart rate, arterial pressure, right heart pressures or the frequency of ventricular premature beats. Prenalterol increased plasma renin activity (from 2.9 +/- 0.8 to 6.6 +/- 1.8 nmol/1/hour), angiotensin II (from 59 +/- 12 to 89 +/- 22 pmol/1), urinary aldosterone excretion (from 41 +/- 10 to 78 +/- 34 nmol/day) and plasma insulin (from 10.6 +/- 2.2 to 19.8 +/- 3.9 mU/1). Circulating catecholamines, cortisol, glucose, glucagon or pancreatic polypeptide did not change. Dose-response studies in five patients showed dose-dependent increments in hemodynamic variables, while hormonal changes plateaued at the second dose level. We conclude that prenalterol infusion augments myocardial contractility, reduces systemic vascular resistance, and stimulates insulin release and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.