Short-term haemodynamic effects of dopexamine in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Dopexamine (FPL 60278) is a new dopamine analogue which possesses a combination of dopamine receptor and beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonist properties. The aim of our study was to evaluate the short-term haemodynamic effects of dopexamine administered by intravenous infusion at different dosage rates. Eight patients with chronic congestive heart failure were studied. A dose of 1 microgram kg-1 min-1 produced a 27% decrease in systemic vascular resistance index (32.6 to 23.9 res. units m2, P less than 0.001 and a significant increase in cardiac index (2.7 to 3.6 l min-1 m-2, P less than 0.001). Stroke volume index and heart rate increased significantly by 22% and 7%, respectively. An increase in left ventricular stroke work index was also seen at the dose level inducing the maximum cardiac output. Left ventricular filling pressures and arterial blood pressures were not affected. We conclude that administration of dopexamine to patients with congestive heart failure augments cardiac performance at rest.