Maddens M, Sowers J
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
Crit Care Clin. 1987 Oct;3(4):871-82.
Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) are released into circulation in response to stress and injury and as part of the body's attempt at vasoregulation in response to circulatory failure. Norepinephrine is released from sympathetic nerve terminal, and epinephrine and dopamine are released from the adrenal medulla. Plasma levels of these catecholamines have been reported to be elevated in various clinical settings: congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary bypass, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoxia, hemorrhage, and septic shock. These amines have both beneficial and detrimental effects on survival. Both norepinephrine and dopamine are often employed in the critically ill to selectively increase cardiocerebral and renal blood flow, respectively.
儿茶酚胺（去甲肾上腺素、肾上腺素和多巴胺）会在应激和损伤时释放到循环中，也是身体为应对循环衰竭而进行血管调节的一部分。去甲肾上腺素从交感神经末梢释放，肾上腺素和多巴胺从肾上腺髓质释放。据报道，在各种临床情况下，这些儿茶酚胺的血浆水平都会升高：充血性心力衰竭、心肌梗死、体外循环、糖尿病酮症酸中毒、缺氧、出血和感染性休克。这些胺类对生存既有有益影响，也有有害影响。去甲肾上腺素和多巴胺常用于危重症患者，分别选择性增加心脑和肾血流量。
