Amrinone combined with dobutamine improves hemodynamics and oxygen delivery without down-regulation of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptor density in porcine endotoxemia.

Effects of amrinone (AMR), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, alone and in combination with dobutamine (DOB), on hemodynamics and O2 delivery were studied during porcine endotoxemia. Pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs were randomly administered either Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) or equivolumetric .9% NaCl (control) as a continuous infusion for 4 h. From 2 to 4 h (T = 120-240 min) of endotoxin infusion, pigs were randomly administered one of the following treatments; AMR infusion (40 micrograms/kg/min) (AMRlow); DOB (10 micrograms/kg/min) (DOB); AMR infusion (40 micrograms/kg/min) + DOB (AMRlow+DOB); AMR bolus (.75 mg/kg) followed by AMR infusion (40 micrograms/kg/min) (AMRhigh); or AMR bolus (.75 mg/kg) followed by infusion (40 micrograms/kg/min) + DOB (AMRhigh+DOB). Myocardial samples were obtained at the end of the experiment and flash-frozen for beta-adrenergic receptor analysis. Endotoxin significantly (p < .05) decreased cardiac index, right ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index, maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (dP/dtmax), mean arterial pressure, and O2 delivery, and increased pulmonary vascular resistance and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (p < .05). AMRlow+DOB significantly (p < .05) increased cardiac index, dP/dtmax, right ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index, O2 delivery and consumption, and decreased mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, mean arterial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance. beta-Adrenergic receptor density (Bmax) and binding equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) for [3H]dihydroalprenolol were not affected by endotoxin or any treatment (p < .05). Endotoxin-induced hemodynamic deterioration and decreased O2 delivery was attenuated by AMRlow+DOB. Potential applications of this combination may exist in treatment of septic patients with inadequate myocardial performance and reduction in O2 delivery complicated by pulmonary hypertension.