Milrinone. A clinical trial in 29 dogs with moderate to severe congestive heart failure.
Milrinone, a positive inotropic drug with vasodilating properties, was administered at doses of 0.5 to 1 mg/kg orally twice daily to 29 dogs with moderate to severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Significant echocardiographic improvement in ventricular systolic function was observed after 3 days of administration of milrinone and at the patients' last echocardiographic observation (day 21 in 25 subjects, day 7 in 2 subjects, and day 3 in 2 subjects). Echocardiographic shortening fraction at the initial measurement had a median increase of 6.14% (P less than 0.001), and for the last observation a 2.83% increase (P less than 0.005). Most patients also showed improvement in their clinical signs as assessed by the veterinarian (72%) and by owner's evaluation (81%). No consistent problem or adverse reaction to milrinone was observed, except for a small number of clinically manageable ventricular dysrhythmias. Milrinone appears in this trial to be effective for the treatment of advanced CHF in dogs.
Keister
D M
DM
Veterinary Research Department, Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
Kittleson
M D
MD
Bonagura
J D
JD
Pipers
F S
FS
Knauer
K W
KW
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D020105:Milrinone; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000662:veterinary; D011728:Pyridones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020105:Milrinone