Role of aminophylline in refractory heart failure: a comparison to the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside, the old and the new

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-1980

Journal

Clinical Cardiology

Volume

3

Issue

2

DOI

10.1002/clc.4960030209

Keywords

aminophylline; anticongestive therapy; cardiac failure; heart failure; sodium nitroprusside; theophylline

Abstract

Aminophylline [(theophylline ethylene diamine (TED)] reportedly improves cardiac hemodynamics by lowering vascular resistances and increasing contractility. TED as used clinically has not been compared to the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (NP). To assess the relative hemodynamic effects of these two commonly used agents, the following comparison was made. Ten patients with congestive cardiomyopathy in chronic refractory heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV] were studied. All patients demonstrated cardiomegaly by chest x ray and echocardiography (LVd = 6.3 ± 0.7 cm) and markedly abnormal hemodynamics during baseline observations (see Table I). Hemodynamic measurements at baseline were compared after TED infusion (mean blood level = 16±12 m̈g/m/TED) and during intravenous NP. No significant changes in heart rate occurred during either therapeutic intervention; a fall in mean arterial pressure of 10 mmHg (p<0.01) was observed during NP therapy; atrioventricular (AV) block with ventricular fibrillation was successfully treated in one patient after TED. Theophylline ethylene diamine demonstrated no detectable cardiac hemodynamic effects 60–90 min post infusion despite proven blood levels, whereas NP exhibited distinctly beneficial effects in this patient group. Previous studies demonstrating improved hemodynamics occurring with TED have been limited to the time of infusion or within the following 40 min, a time when TED blood levels are maximum and therefore closest to toxicity. The results of this study suggest that TED demonstrates no beneficial hemodynamic effects in refractory heart failure as early as 1 h after infusion despite blood levels in the therapeutic range. Copyright © 1980 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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