Impact of milrinone on mitral annular velocity in patients with congestive heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of milrinone on mitral annular velocity in patients with congestive heart failure.


METHODS
We studied 27 patients with congestive heart failure. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography both before and after administration of milrinone. We measured the early transmitral velocity (E) and the mitral annular early diastolic velocity (Ea). The ratio of E to Ea (E/Ea) was calculated. After the baseline echocardiography, milrinone was administered as a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.25 μg/kg/min. Echocardiographic measurements were repeated 4 h after milrinone was begun.


RESULTS
After administration of milrinone, Ea was significantly increased, while E/Ea was significantly decreased. The population of 27 patients was divided into 20 (74 %) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50 % and seven (26 %) with LVEF ≥50 %. Ea was significantly increased in both groups, while E/Ea was significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Even low-dose milrinone produced an improvement in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, as evidenced by an increase in Ea, and falls in LV filling pressures, as determined by a decrease in E/Ea, in patients with congestive heart failure throughout a wide range of LV systolic function.
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan. hytch@hotmail.co.jp.
Yasuyuki
Y
Hadano
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Ogawa
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Takatoshi
T
Wakeyama
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Akira
A
Takaki
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Takahiro
T
Iwami
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Masayasu
M
Kimura
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Mamoru
M
Mochizuki
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Yosuke
Y
Miyazaki
Division of Cardiology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, 1-1 Kodacho, Shunan, 745-8522, Japan.
Atsushi
A
Hiratsuka
Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
Masunori
M
Matsuzaki
Congestive heart failure; Milrinone; Mitral annular velocity