Inotropic agents improve the peripheral microcirculation of patients with end-stage chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Skeletal muscle microcirculation impairment in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) seems to correlate with disease severity. We evaluated the microcirculation by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) occlusion technique before and after inotropic infusion.


METHODS
We evaluated 25 patients with stable CHF, 30 patients with end-stage CHF (ESCHF) receiving treatment with intermittent infusion of inotropic agents, and 12 healthy subjects. Thenar muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO(2)%) was measured noninvasively by NIRS before, during, and after 3-minute occlusion of the brachial artery (occlusion technique) in all subjects and in patients with ESCHF before and after 6 hours of inotropic infusion (dobutamine and/or levosimendan) or placebo (N = 5).


RESULTS
Patients with ESCHF or CHF presented significantly lower StO(2)% than healthy subjects (74.5% +/- 7%, 78.6% +/- 6%, and 85% +/- 5%, respectively; P = .0001), lower oxygen consumption rate during occlusion (24.6% +/- 8%/min, 28.6% +/- 10%/min, and 38.1% +/- 11.1%/min, respectively; P = .001), and lower reperfusion rate (327% +/- 141%/min, 410% +/- 106%/min, and 480% +/- 133%/min, respectively; P = .002). After 6 hours of inotropic infusion, patients with ESCHF showed significantly increased StO(2)% (74.5% +/- 7% to 82% +/- 9%, P = .001), oxygen consumption rate (24.6% +/- 8%/min to 29.3% +/- 8%/min, P = .009), and reperfusion rate (327% +/- 141%/min to 467% +/- 151%/min, P = .001). No statistical difference was noted in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral muscle microcirculation as assessed by NIRS is impaired in patients with CHF. This impairment is partially reversed by infusion of inotropic agents in patients with ESCHF.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Department, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Evgenidio Hospital, Athens, Greeece.
Serafim
S
Nanas
Vasiliki
V
Gerovasili
Stavros
S
Dimopoulos
Charalampos
C
Pierrakos
Soultana
S
Kourtidou
Elissavet
E
Kaldara
Serafim
S
Sarafoglou
John
J
Venetsanakos
Charis
C
Roussos
John
J
Nanas
Maria
M
Anastasiou-Nana
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001916:Brachial Artery; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077464:Simendan; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000077464:Simendan; D004280:Dobutamine