title: New inotropic pharmacologic strategies targeting the failing myocardium in the newborn and infant.
abstract: Pharmacologic support of the failing neonatal heart to maintain cardiac output, which is vital for sufficient end organ perfusion, is a challenging task for the pediatric intensivist, especially since strategies which have been proven to be effective in adults cannot necessarily be extrapolated to neonates. The unique biochemical properties and structure of the neonatal heart, including the increased non-contractile tissue mass, a lower responsiveness to beta adrenergic agents and the heart rate dependent cardiac output with a limited ability to increase stroke volume, favor some of the new inotropes of the Ca+ sensitizer family. Focusing on the after load reduction, inodilators as phosphodiesterase inhibitors and human brain natriuretic peptide offer treatment options for the neonatal myocardium. Additionally, thyroxine and steroids have been investigated in neonates with low cardiac output after surgery for congenital heart disease. Gene therapy, in particular cardiac-selective gene transfer, might offer perspectives for future support for the neonatal heart. This text reviews some of the most recent pharmacologic strategies targeting the failing myocardium in the critically ill newborn and infant.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Heart Center, University Hospital Giessen Feulgenstr. 12, 35385 Giessen, Germany. alex.veldman@paediat.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veldman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schranz
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors