Influence of dobutamine and dopamine on hemodynamics and plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and renin in patients with low cardiac output following acute myocardial infarction.

The comparative hemodynamic effects of dobutamine and dopamine were studied in 6 patients with low cardiac output resulting from acute myocardial infarction. Plasma levels of noradrenaline and renin were measured before and during a 5 microgram/kg/min infusion of each of the drugs. Dobutamine had a more pronounced chronotropic effect, increased the systolic arterial pressure more and decreased the systemic vascular resistance less than dopamine at doses which had comparable effects on cardiac output. Dobutamine stimulated renin release, which might partly be the cause of the increased systolic arterial pressure. The drug reduced the plasma level of noradrenaline, which might be explained as a reflex reduction in sympathetic tone. Dopamine, however, did not stimulate renin release but it did enhance the plasma level of noradrenaline, which might be due mainly to the release of endogenous noradrenaline.