title: Intravenous dopexamine in the treatment of acute congestive heart failure: results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal study.
abstract: Acute hemodynamic effects of intravenous infusion of dopexamine were evaluated by a placebo-controlled withdrawal study in patients with acute congestive heart failure. Twenty patients were enrolled at 10 centers in Japan. All patients had a pulmonary capillary or diastolic pressure of 15 mmHg or greater and a cardiac index of 2.5 l/min/m2 or less. Phase I: Intravenous dopexamine was introduced in a single-blind, uncontrolled fashion at the rate of 0.5 micrograms/kg/min and was titrated up to achieve a 30% or more increase in the cardiac index. Two patients withdrew from the study due to sinus tachycardia and ventricular ectopy or exacerbation of heart failure. Phase II: The remaining 18 responders who were free of limiting side effects were randomized in double-blind fashion to continue dopexamine or to switch to placebo for an additional 60 minutes. At the end of phase II, the hemodynamic improvement obtained in phase I of the study disappeared completely after substitution of placebo but was maintained in dopexamine-treated patients. Our findings suggest that dopexamine, when given in appropriate doses to selected patients, shows balanced vasodilator action suitable for the treatment of acute congestive heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asanoi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasayama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishimura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsudo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morioka
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004298:Dopamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C046318:dopexamine; D004298:Dopamine