Increase in hepatic blood flow and cardiac output during dopamine infusion in man

The object of this paper was to evaluate the effect of a continuous dopamine infusion (10--12 micrograms/kg . min) on the estimated hepatic blood flow (EHBF) and cardiac output (CO) in man. Measurements were made in 3 periods: the initial control state, during dopamine infusion, and after the infusion. The CO (by thermodilution) and EHBF (by hepatic vein sampling after continuous indocyanine green (ICG) infusion) were measured during each phase. Ten subjects, with inapparent hepatic disease, hemorrhage, or hemodynamic anomalies, were studied. The results showed a 64% increase in the EHBF and a 49% increase in the CO. All subjects showed a return to the original baseline state after infusion. The EHBF/CO was 14% in the control period, 17.3% during infusion, and 13.4% after dopamine infusion. These changes were not statistically significant. Dopamine, therefore, increased both EHBF and CO, but the existence of intrahepatic dopaminergic receptors could not be established.