title: Plasma catecholamine levels in acute myocardial infarction: influence of beta-adrenergic blockade and relation to central hemodynamics.
abstract: In a prospective study, 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to treatment with intravenous metoprolol followed by oral metoprolol or placebo. All patients underwent hemodynamic monitoring for 24 hours. Plasma adrenaline and noradrenalin levels were estimated at baseline (mean 6.0 +/- 0.9 hours from onset of symptoms) and at 1 and 24 hours after the start of therapy. Plasma adrenaline and noradrenalin levels were elevated in all but one patient, with a further increase at 1 hour after administration of metoprolol (p less than 0.05). At baseline pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was directly related to both plasma adrenaline (r = -0.44; p less than 0.05) and noradrenalin levels (r = -0.44; p less than 0.05). There was also an inverse relationship between stroke volume index and the plasma noradrenalin level (r = -0.44; p less than 0.05) but not the plasma adrenaline level. These relationships were lost after the baseline measurements. However, between baseline and 1 hour there was a close relationship between the change in systemic vascular resistance and the changes in both adrenaline (r = -0.48; p less than 0.05) and noradrenalin levels (r = -0.66; p less than 0.01). Thus, in the early stages of myocardial infarction high plasma catecholamine levels are associated with the hemodynamic markers of severe left ventricular damage. Beta-adrenergic blockade with metoprolol produced a further increase in catecholamine levels that was associated with an increase in systemic vascular resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Birmingham, East Birmingham Hospital, England.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Zezulka
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Littler
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D008790:Metoprolol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine