Intravenous and oral MDL 17043 (a new inotrope-vasodilator agent) in congestive heart failure: hemodynamic and clinical evaluation in 38 patients.

To evaluate the potential benefit of MDL 17043, a new inotrope-vasodilator agent, in the short- and long-term management of severe heart failure, its hemodynamic effects were determined after both intravenous (cumulative average dose 3.7 mg/kg) and oral (average 18.4 mg/kg) administration in 38 patients with severe intractable heart failure. After both intravenous and oral therapy, cardiac index increased from a control value of 2.1 +/- 0.4 to 3.6 +/- 0.9 liters/min per m2, p less than 0.001 (intravenous) and from 2.2 +/- 0.5 to 3.4 +/- 0.6 liters/min per m2, p less than 0.001 (oral). Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 26 +/- 6 to 14 +/- 7 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and from 26 +/- 7 to 18 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) after intravenous and oral routes, respectively. Stroke volume index and stroke work index increased, and right atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures and systemic vascular resistance decreased by similar magnitude after both intravenous and oral MDL 17043 (all p less than 0.001). The hemodynamic effects persisted during 4 hours of observation. Thirty-seven patients were discharged while receiving MDL 17043 therapy and were followed up for a mean of 5.6 months (range 0.5 to 13). Thirty-three of the 37 patients had short-term improvement clinically by at least one New York Heart Association functional class. Undesirable effects, including nausea (35%), anorexia (27%), fluid retention (24%) and thrombocytopenia (less than 1%), necessitated discontinuation of therapy in 11 patients (30%) who were receiving multiple drug therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)