The effect of dopamine on renal cortical blood flow in baboons with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice.

The effect of dopamine hydrochloride on renal blood flow in bile duct ligated baboons was assessed using the 133Xe washout technique. Intrarenal infusions of dopamine in different concentrations did not significantly increase renal cortical blood flow. On the contrary, over the lower dose range, the normal dopamine-induced renal vasodilatation was abolished in the jaundiced state. An in vitro experiment that measured the perfusion pressure of an isolated rabbit kidney perfused with normal and jaundiced baboon plasma confirmed the in vivo results. These observations suggest that dopamine would not be of value in treating the renal failure that may develop in patients with obstructive jaundice.