title: Clonidine in congestive heart failure: a vasodilator with negative inotropic effects.
abstract: Fourteen patients with moderately severe congestive heart failure (CHF) were given clonidine orally (0.2 and 0.4 mg doses) to determine the hemodynamic effects of a typical centrally acting vasodilator. The 0.2 mg dose significantly reduced mean systemic (15%) and mean pulmonary artery (20%) pressure; the corresponding reductions in vascular resistance were not as great because of a diminished cardiac output. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased significantly (27%). Heart rate decreased 11% and stroke volume remained unchanged. At a higher dose (0.4 mg), clonidine augmented these reductions but increased stroke volume modestly (15%). Isovolumic developed pressure/duration of isovolumic contraction and the duration of the preejection period were used as indexes of inotropy. After both doses, isovolumic developed pressure/duration of isovolumic contraction decreased dramatically (greater than or equal to 33%) and the preejection period increased substantially (greater than or equal to 18%) (both p less than 0.05). Compared with currently employed vasodilating agents, the centrally acting agent clonidine appears unique in that the drug-induced systemic and pulmonary arterial vasodilation are not accompanied by a commensurate improvement in ventricular systolic function. This lack of improvement appears to be a result of negative inotropic effects.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D003000:Clonidine