Congestive heart failure positive inotropics
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
- Agents that increase intracellular cAMP
- Alpha-adrenergic agonists
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
- Agents that affect sarcolemmal ion pumps/channels
- Agents that modulate intracellular calcium mechanisms by either:
- Release of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium (IP3)
- Increased sensitization of the contractile proteins to calcium
- Drugs having multiple mechanisms of action
- Pimobendan
- Vesnarinone
Digoxin
- Inhibits Na,K+-ATPase resulting in an increase in intracellular Na+, extracellular Ca2+ exchange increasing the velocity and extent of sarcomere shortening.
- ACC/AHA recommend digoxin for symptomatic patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
- Commonly used in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation to reduce the ventricular response rate.
- Mortality has not been shown to be improved with use of digoxin, but the use of digoxin has been associated with a reduction in hospitalization in the RALES study.
- There is no need to load a CHF patient with digoxin. For the majority of patients with normal renal function, a daily dose of 0.25 mg of digoxin is usually adequate. In the older patient or in those patients with renal impairment, a dose of 0.125 mg per day may be adequate.
- Drugs that increase the concentration of digoxin include antibiotics and anticholinergic agents as well as amiodarone, quinidine and verapamil.
- In the RALES study, a level of < 1 ng/ml was associated with efficacy. Levels above 1 ng/ml were not associated with greater efficacy and were associated with higher mortality.
Dobutamine
- Activates beta-1 receptors resulting in enhanced cardiac contractility.
- Long-term dobutamine infusions are arrhythmogenic and increase mortality.
- Dobutamine also slightly reduces afterload
Dopamine
- Unique dose dependent mechanism of action.
- At low doses: (≤2 µg/kg/min), selective dilation of splanchnic and renal arterial beds. assists in increasing renal perfusion.
- At intermediate doses: (2 to 10 µg/kg/min), increased norepinephrine secretion results in increased cardiac contractility, heart rate and systemic vascular resistance.
- At higher doses: (5 to 20 µg/kg/min), direct alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation increases systemic vascular resistance.
Milrinone
- Phosphodiesterase-III inhibitor that enhances cardiac contractility by increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).
- Potent pulmonary vasodilator that may benefit some patients with pulmonary hypertension.
- Unlike dobutamine milrinone is beneficial in decompensated heart failure patients who are on beta-blocker therapy.
- Long term milrinone infusions are arrhythmogenic, and increase mortality.