title: Use of inotropes and vasopressor agents in critically ill patients.
abstract: Inotropes and vasopressors are biologically and clinically important compounds that originate from different pharmacological groups and act at some of the most fundamental receptor and signal transduction systems in the body. More than 20 such agents are in common clinical use, yet few reviews of their pharmacology exist outside of physiology and pharmacology textbooks. Despite widespread use in critically ill patients, understanding of the clinical effects of these drugs in pathological states is poor. The purpose of this article is to describe the pharmacology and clinical applications of inotropic and vasopressor agents in critically ill patients.
authors: William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors: Mansoor N
authors: MN
authors: Bangash
authors: Ming-Li
authors: ML
authors: Kong
authors: Rupert M
authors: RM
authors: Pearse
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000188:drug therapy; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D006728:Hormones; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents