Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of adenosine monophosphate with sodium nitroprusside in a canine model of acute global left ventricular dysfunction.

1. The haemodynamic effects of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were compared in anaesthetized dogs following the induction of acute left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. 2. LV dysfunction was induced by the intracoronary administration of glass microbeads until left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased from 5 to 15 mmHg. This was associated with a decrease in LV dP/dt and cardiac index (CI) of 30% and 27%, respectively, and an increase in systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) of 37%. 3. Graded doses of AMP (100 to 1000 micrograms kg-1 min-1) or SNP (1 to 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1) reduced SVRI and increased CI in a dose-related manner. Heart rate was not altered by either agent. At doses that caused similar reductions in SVRI, CI was increased more by AMP than by SNP. 4. The mechanisms responsible for the greater elevation of CI by AMP relative to SNP may be related to its more selective arterial vasodilator activity. SNP reduced cardiac preload that limited the expected increase in CI. 5. The haemodynamic profile of AMP suggests that it may be useful in the pharmacological management of acute cardiac failure, either when used alone or in combination with positive inotropic agents and/or selective venodilators.