Hypotension in preterm infants with significant patent ductus arteriosus: effects of dopamine.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of dopamine on systemic arterial pressure (SAP) and systemic blood flow (SBF) (estimated with the superior vena cava [SVC] flow) in preterm infants with hypotension and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).


METHODS
Clinical and echocardiographic variables were measured before and 2 hours after starting dopamine in premature infants <32 weeks gestational age with PDA and systemic hypotension.


RESULTS
Seventeen premature infants were included (gestational age, 28+/-2 weeks; birth weight, 1030 +/- 400 g). A mean rate of 8 +/- 2 microg/kg/min of dopamine raised SAP from 30 +/- 3 to 41 +/- 5 mm Hg (P < .05), and the pulmonary artery pressures from 25 +/- 5 to 32 +/- 8 mm Hg (P < .05). The SVC flow increased by 30% (from 130 +/- 40 to 170 +/- 44 mL/kg/min; P < .05). The left ventricular output and the end-diastolic and mean left pulmonary artery blood flow velocities did not change despite the increase in pulmonary artery pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
In preterm infants with hypotension and PDA, dopamine (<10 microg/kg/min) increases the systemic blood pressure and the systemic blood flow. Our results suggest that dopamine decreases left-to-right shunting across ductus arteriosus, caused by a rise in pulmonary vascular resistances.
Bouissou
Antoine
A
Department of Perinatal Medicine, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHRU Lille, France.
Rakza
Thameur
T
Klosowski
Serge
S
Tourneux
Pierre
P
Vanderborght
Marie
M
Storme
Laurent
L
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004298:Dopamine