Thermogenic effect of amrinone in healthy men.
OBJECTIVE
The thermogenic effect of amrinone is unknown and its utilization in patients with severe cardiac failure could potentially increase oxygen requirements and therefore aggravate oxygen debt. Consequently, the present study was undertaken to assess the thermogenic response to amrinone at three different plasma concentrations under controlled conditions and to analyze amrinone's effects on various biochemical variables.


METHODS
A prospective, unblinded, controlled study. The initial control period was followed by three sequential, experimental treatments.


METHODS
Ten young, healthy, male volunteers with normal body weight.


METHODS
Three experimental periods. Amrinone was administered intravenously in progressive doses: a) 0.5 mg/kg followed by 5 micrograms/kg/min; b) 0.5 mg/kg followed by 10 micrograms/kg/min; and c) 1.0 mg/kg followed by 10 micrograms/kg/min.


RESULTS
Oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production were continuously measured by means of a computerized indirect calorimeter. At the highest dose, amrinone produced a slight and significant (p < .01) increase in VO2 and in resting metabolic rate (+4.5% and +3.7%, respectively), while no change in CO2 production or in respiratory quotient occurred throughout the study. At the medium and high doses, amrinone increased plasma free fatty acid concentrations by 38% and 53%, respectively (p < .05). No variation in plasma glucose, lactate, insulin, norepinephrine, or epinephrine concentrations was observed during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Amrinone administered intravenously at therapeutic doses has minimal thermogenic and metabolic effects in humans without cardiac failure.
Ruttimann
Y
Y
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Chioléro
R
R
Revelly
J P
JP
Jeanprêtre
N
N
Schutz
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000676:Amrinone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000676:Amrinone