A randomized crossover trial of levodopa in congestive heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The short- and long-term effects of levodopa (L-dopa), an oral dopaminergic prodrug, were assessed in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.


RESULTS
Initially, 26 patients were included in the study group. After clinical, radiographic, and radionuclide examination, each patient underwent right heart catheterization (Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter). Plasma noradrenaline levels were measured. In two patients, a favorable hemodynamic response to L-dopa was not observed, another two required permanent pacemaker implantation. These four patients were excluded from the study. Two patients required permanent pacemaker implantation. The remaining 22 patients with favorable hemodynamic response to L-dopa (increase in cardiac index, stroke volume index, reduction in total systemic resistance) were randomized in a nonblinded fashion to the conventional (11 patients) or conventional plus L-dopa (11 patients) treatment groups. During the study period, two patients, one from each group, died. They were excluded from the analysis. The final analyzed study group consisted of 20 men, aged 33-69, in New York Heart Association functional class IV (9 patients) and III (11 patients). The cause of congestive heart failure was primary dilated cardiomyopathy in 11 patients and ischemic heart disease in 9 patients. After 3 months' treatment, all patients were crossed over. Clinical, radiographic, radionuclide, and hemodynamic evaluation was repeated at the end of the 3-month treatment period. After 3 months of therapy with L-dopa in each group (covariance analysis), there was improvement in clinical, radiographic (relative heart volume, -128 mL/m2), radionuclide (left ventricular ejection fraction, +4.6; right ventricular ejection fraction, +4.8%), hemodynamic (mean pulmonary wedge pressure, -8 mmHg; total systemic resistance, -1.8 Wu; total pulmonary resistance, -3.5 Wu), and neurohumoral (noradrenaline, -218 pg/mL) measures.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of L-dopa to conventional therapy has beneficial short- and long-term effects in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.
Second Department of Valvular Disease, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Alpejska, Poland.
P
P
Leszek
T
T
Zieliński
J
J
Janas
M
M
Brodzki
H
H
Klimkiewicz
J
J
Korewicki
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011875:Radionuclide Angiography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D004232:Diuretics; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa