Increased forearm vascular resistance after dopamine blockade.

The peripheral haemodynamic effects of a 40 mg intravenous injection of domperidone (a dopamine antagonist) have been studied in 10 normal subjects. In four subjects domperidone was infused directly into the brachial artery and the effects on forearm blood flow were measured. When administered systemically, domperidone significantly decreased forearm blood flow by 9% (P less than 0.01) and significantly increased calculated forearm vascular resistance by 11% (P less than 0.01). The drug produced no measurable changes in forearm blood flow at any dose when infused directly into the brachial artery. A further study was carried out into the effects of a systemic injection of domperidone on peripheral sympathetic tone. Reduction of sympathetic tone in the forearm was achieved by passively raising the legs of eight recumbent subjects. Before domperidone administration, passive leg elevation significantly increased forearm blood flow by 39% and decreased forearm vascular resistance by 13%. After drug administration the absolute values of vascular resistance increased and the changes between the supine and elevated position values when compared with those of the corresponding values prior to drug administration were significantly lower. These results suggest that the role of domperidone in increasing peripheral vascular tone is unlikely to be mediated by a direct local effect on peripheral resistance vessels. Any effect the drug may have is suggested to be mediated via a central control mechanism.