Hemodynamic Effects of Amrinone and Changes in Norepinephrine (NE) Plasma Concentration

Plasma NE concentration of patients with severe heart failure (NYHA class (III-)IV) was found to be about three times higher than it was evaluated in those patients with normal hemodynamic function or mild heart failure (NYHA class I and II) [1, 2], and there is a negative correlation between circulating catecholamines and myocardial beta-receptor density [2, 3, 4]; treatment of severe heart failure with catecholamines will be rather ineffectiv.