title: Milrinone: basic and clinical pharmacology and acute and chronic management.
abstract: Milrinone (Inocor-Sanofi-Winthrop) represents a second generation phosphodiesterase inhibitor currently approved for intravenous administration in the treatment of decompensated congestive heart failure. By inhibiting Type III phosphodiesterase, milrinone increases intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate. This results in a positive inotropic effect on the heart and vasodilatation in the periphery. The hemodynamic consequences of this action produce left ventricular afterload reduction, with an increase in cardiac output and a reduction in total peripheral resistance. Unlike the sympathomimetic amines, milrinone produces no tolerance and possesses the distinct advantage of directly decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance. Short-term intermittent infusion by peripheral administration, continuous infusion, long-term therapy, and intermittent outpatient therapy was demonstrated to be safe, efficacious, and cost effective. It is hypothesized that intravenous milrinone, by producing biventricular afterload reduction, offers an efficacious, cost-effective tool for the treatment of decompensated heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Cardiopulmonary Research, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Shipley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tolman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hastillo
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000075202:Contraindications; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020105:Milrinone; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011728:Pyridones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011728:Pyridones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D020105:Milrinone