title: Adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride: relevance for intensive care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite aggressive resuscitation shock often results in multiple-organ failure characterized by increased energy demands of organs and decreased ability of effective energy production. The administration of ATP-MgCl(2) as a supportive measure has been investigated in various animal models of ischemia/reperfusion injury and hemorrhagic, endotoxic, and septic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  These studies showed improvement in organ blood flow, microcirculation, energy balance, cellular and mitochondrial, functions and restoration of immune competence, ultimately leading to increased survival. Originally these effects were attributed to direct energy provision by the ATP-Mg complex, but the minute amount of ATP infused compared to the body's ATP formation rate suggests that other mechanisms must be responsible for its beneficial properties such as stabilization of the cell membrane, phosphorylation of membrane proteins, decreased cell swelling, and improved microcirculatory perfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental evidence currently available suggests the use of ATP-MgCl(2) as a therapeutic adjunct in patients with multiple-organ dysfunction. In addition, given the extremely short half-life which allows both rapid titration and control of the systemic hemodynamic response, for example, reduction in mean arterial pressure, ATP-MgCl(2) may be suitable as an alternative to other fast-acting vasodilators used for the management of acute pulmonary hypertensive crises and/or for the maintenance blood pressure during aortic cross-clamping.
authors.affiliation: Sektion Anästhesiologische Pathophysiologieund Verahrensentwicklung, Universitätsklinik für Anästhesiologie, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nalos
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asfar
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ichai
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Radermacher
authors.forename: Xavier Maurice
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Leverve
authors.forename: Gebhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fröba
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012769:Shock / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate