title: Plasma elimination of milrinone in rats in relation to its hemodynamic effects.
abstract: Milrinone (1,6-dihydro-2-methyl-6-oxo[3,4'-bipyridine]-5-carbonitrile) is a cardiotonic drug, currently under clinical investigation for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Its positive inotropic properties and its strong vasodilative action contribute to a favorable therapeutic effect. Plasma elimination of milrinone is generally by renal excretion of the unchanged drug. Since hemodynamic effects might influence the pharmacokinetics of renally eliminated drugs, we have investigated the plasma elimination of milrinone after different iv bolus doses of the compound in healthy rats. Half-times were 20.6 +/- 5.5 min (0.3 mg/kg milrinone), 17.0 +/- 1.8 min (1.0 mg/kg), 31.4 +/- 4.5 min (3.0 mg/kg), and 95.5 +/- 18.4 min (10.0 mg/kg). Clearances of milrinone showed a positive correlation with doses. Hemodynamic effects were dose dependent and (plasma) concentration dependent, and the maximum decrease in diastolic blood pressure was 54.5 +/- 0.5 mmHg. The half-effective plasma concentration of milrinone was 1.0 +/- 0.2 microM. The maximum increase in heart rate was 15%. We conclude that milrinone plasma elimination in rats is dose dependent, probably resulting from its strong vasodilator properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verrijk
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vleeming
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: van Rooij
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wemer
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Porsius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006207:Half-Life; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D020105:Milrinone; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011728:Pyridones / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D011728:Pyridones; D003404:Creatinine; D020105:Milrinone