Renal dose dopamine--it's myth and the truth.

Renal dose dopamine is prescribed worldwide for the prevention and treatment of acute renal failure. It's use is based on selective renal vasodilatation (induced at low doses) observed in animal studies and normal subjects. But most clinical studies have failed to demonstrate convincingly the benefit of low dose dopamine in acute renal failure. Moreover adverse effects of dopamine have been recognised warranting its use only in specific situations where benefit is proved. The available data on renal dose dopamine are either poor or statistically underpowered to draw conclusion. Therefore, a prospective, controlled trial with adequate patient number is required, to confirm the benefits.