title: Effects of dopamine infusion on forearm blood flow in critical patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In critical care, dopamine is administered by infusion at low doses (<or=3 microg/kg/min) or at high doses (>or=5 microg/kg/min) for assessment of hemodynamics. The present study was conducted to explore the effects of dopamine infusion on the vast microvascular network of skeletal muscle in the early phases of sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study was performed which included twelve critically ill patients. Patients' response to dopamine infusion (3 microg/kg/min) was studied within 24 hours from admission to the ICU. The forearm blood flow (FBF) and vascular resistance (FVR) were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dopamine did not ameliorate forearm regional oxygenation. The infusion of dopamine caused an increase in MAP, while FBF decreased with the resistance increase (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NIRS was suitable to measure bedside the vascular resistance and to test the effects of low doses of dopamine on forearm blood flow. A dopamine infusion of 3.0 microg/kg/min caused a reduction in forearm blood flow and an increase in vascular resistance in our patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Universitŕ degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, School of Medicine, Naples, Italy. orpiazza@unina.it
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Geremia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tufano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D004298:Dopamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine