title: The potential use of thiamine in patients with cardiac insufficiency.
abstract: Incremental doses of vitamin B1 were injected into patients with myocardial and pulmonary insufficiency treated in the post-operative period in the ICU (intensive care unit) after repairment of abdominal aneurysm. Compared to the control situation thiamine in a total dose of 50 mg/Kg induced a rise of blood pressure by at least 20 mmHg and a moderate elevation of central venous pressure by 3 mmHg. Heart rate was not affected and the EEG exhibited arousal effects after B1 treatment. It is suggested that in the failing heart with increased sympathetic tone thiamine acts as a mild peripheral vasodilator followed by a diminished pump outflow impedance and a resultant increase in systolic blood pressure. The redistribution of volume to the low pressure side is associated with a rise in central venous pressure. Effects of B1 on the EEG suggest an arousal reaction probably due to an interaction with a neurotransmitter system such as acethylcholine.
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014690:Venous Pressure / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009020:Morphine; D013831:Thiamine