The effects of isoproterenol and dopamine on regional myocardial blood flow after stenosis of circumflex coronary artery.

The effects of isoproterenol and dopamine on regional myocardial blood flow were studied in 10 open-chest dogs after acute stenosis of the proximal circumflex coronary artery. Blood flow was determined by the radioactive microsphere technique. Isoproterenol led to a homogenous increase in blood flow in the normal myocardium. In the myocardium with compromised coronary blood flow, isoproterenol led to a relative subendocardial ischemia. This occurred despite increased aortic flow and peak left ventricular dp/dt. Dopamine also increased aortic flow and peak left ventricular dp/dt, but it did not cause regional myocardial ischemia. The findings suggest that dopamine is the preferable inotropic agent in managing low cardiac output in patients with significant coronary artery disease.