title: Cardiopulmonary effects of ketanserin infusion in human pulmonary embolism.
abstract: The release of platelet-derived vasoactive substances, particularly serotonin (5-HT), have been implicated in the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response following acute pulmonary embolism. Therefore, we studied the effects of infusing ketanserin, a 5-HT blocking agent, upon pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics and gas exchange in 10 patients with severe acute pulmonary embolism. These patients evidenced 45 +/- 17% mean angiographic pulmonary vascular obstruction. Ketanserin significantly decreased the mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 26 +/- 6 to 23 +/- 5 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). The total pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 9.1 +/- 3.2 to 8.3 +/- 2.5 mm Hg/L X min X m2 (p less than 0.001). However, the mean cardiac index was unchanged. The systemic arterial and right atrial pressures were significantly decreased after ketanserin. The PaO2 increased in all patients from 60.5 +/- 12.6 to 66.5 +/- 13.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.05), whereas the venous admixture was unchanged. This was attributed to an increased PVO2 (27 +/- 7 to 30 +/- 5 mmHg, p less than 0.01) secondary to a reduction of calculated peripheral oxygen consumption during ketanserin infusion. The results indicate ketanserin is a mild pulmonary vasodilator and can reduce the pulmonary hypertension and increase the PaO2 after pulmonary embolism.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007650:Ketanserin; D010100:Oxygen