title: Effects of vasopressor agents and epoprostenol on systemic hemodynamics and oxygen transport in fulminant hepatic failure.
abstract: Hypotension is a serious complication in patients with fulminant hepatic failure, because it is associated with tissue hypoxia and a further compromise to end-organ function. In this study we investigated the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine on hemodynamics and oxygen transport variables in 30 patients with fulminant hepatic failure. All had a mean arterial pressure of less than 60 mm Hg, despite adequate intravascular filling pressures. Both epinephrine (n = 15) and norepinephrine (n = 15) improved mean arterial pressure (p less than 0.001 epinephrine and norepinephrine), although this was not associated with a rise in oxygen delivery. Oxygen consumption fell (p less than 0.05 epinephrine, p less than 0.001 norepinephrine) because of a lower oxygen extraction ratio (p less than 0.01 epinephrine and norepinephrine). The addition of epoprostenol, a microcirculatory vasodilator, in 10 patients from each group led to an increase in oxygen consumption (p less than 0.001 epinephrine and norepinephrine) because of a rise in oxygen delivery (p less than 0.05 epinephrine, p less than 0.01 norepinephrine) and oxygen extraction ratio (p less than 0.01 epinephrine, p less than 0.001 norepinephrine), without a fall in mean arterial pressure. The fall in oxygen consumption after the institution of vasopressor therapy could exacerbate tissue hypoxia and thus contribute to further organ damage in an already susceptible patient. In patients with fulminant hepatic failure who are given vasopressor support, the addition of epoprostenol may prevent the development of tissue hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Liver Studies, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wendon
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keays
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gimson
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011464:Epoprostenol; D010100:Oxygen; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine