title: Outpatient continuous inotrope infusion as an adjunct to heart failure therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
abstract: We report the use of continuous intravenous inotrope infusion as a palliative management strategy for the treatment of symptomatic, refractory, end stage cardiac dysfunction in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Milrinone and/or dobutamine administered by continuous intravenous infusion provided symptomatic and objective cardiovascular improvement up to 30 months in 3 individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and severe dilated cardiomyopathy. Continuous inotrope infusion should be considered a practical treatment strategy for end stage cardiac dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients when cardiac transplantation is not a viable option.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. L.Cripe@CCHMC.org
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cripe
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Spicer
authors.forename: Brenda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weidner
authors.forename: D Woodrow
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Markham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D020105:Milrinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine; D020105:Milrinone