Long-term amrinone therapy in patients with severe heart failure: Drug-dependent hemodynamic benefits despite progression of the disease

摘要: Six patients with severe congestive heart failure refractory to conventional therapy, including vasodilators, were treated oral amrinone for a mean duration of 41 weeks (range 20 72 weeks). At initiation the cardiac index increased from 1.74 +/- 0.31 2.62 0.52 (mean SD) liters/min/m2 (p less than 0.01) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased 26.5 3.5 19.5 5.4 mm Hg 0.05). Symptoms alleviated exercise capacity 5.9 2.9 11.5 4.5 minutes During long-term remained constants in three whereas it others. All demonstrated an increase size. Withdrawal therapy precipitated symptoms at rest hemodynamic deterioration all patients. The 1.87 0.49 1.32 0.30 liter/min/m2 0.05) rose 20.6 28.8 5.6 These changes reversed by reinstitution therapy. Thus, amrinone-dependent benefits during without tachyphylaxis. In addition, progression underlying disease was observed every patient.