Effects of ibopamine on acute cardiac failure following experimental coronary occlusion in dogs.

The activity of ibopamine (SB-7505), the 3,4-diisobutyryl ester of N-methyldopamine, on myocardial contractility and systemic and renal hemodynamics was investigated in the anesthetized dog with experimental infarction, instrumented with catheters and electromagnetic flowmeters. Ibopamine, given by the intraduodenal route at a dose of 24 mg/kg, was effective in improving the hemodynamic parameters depressed by myocardial infarction, in particular myocardial contractility and renal hemodynamics. In eliciting such activity which resembles that developed by dopamine in similar experimental conditions, ibopamine seems to meet the requirements of an orally active pharmacological agent useful in the therapy of acute heart failure.