Control of arteriolar resistance in heart failure. Partial attenuation of specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor-mediated vasodilation by digitalis glycosides.

BACKGROUND

The vasodilatory response to local specific type III phosphodiesterase inhibition with amrinone was evaluated before and immediately after local administration of digoxin in 14 patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A 3F polyethylene catheter was inserted into the common femoral artery for drug administration and pressure monitoring. Mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) was continuously determined in the superficial femoral artery by transcutaneous Doppler ultrasonography. After intra-arterial administration of 10 mg amrinone, group MBFV increased from 7.7 +/- 1.4 to 16.0 +/- 2.1 cm/sec (p less than 0.05, n = 10). Local administration of 20 micrograms digoxin, which was infused over 20 minutes, did not alter group MBFV (i.e., 8.2 +/- 1.6 versus 7.6 +/- 1.5 cm/sec; p = NS, n = 10). The second administration of 10 mg amrinone, which immediately followed completion of local digoxin infusion, increased group MBFV but to a lesser extent than that produced by the first amrinone administration (i.e., 11.9 +/- 1.9 versus 16.0 +/- 2.1 cm/sec; p less than 0.05, n = 10). When placebo was administered instead of digoxin, group MBFV was similar after the first and second administrations of amrinone (i.e., 15.3 +/- 3.3 versus 15.6 +/- 3.8 cm/sec; p = NS, n = 4).

CONCLUSIONS

Although local administration of digoxin did not significantly alter baseline vascular tone in patients with CHF, it substantially decreased the direct vasodilatory effect induced by specific type III phosphodiesterase with amrinone.