Abstract

Simultaneous measurements of cardiac and renal hemodynamics were obtained in 20 patients who were undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. After control observations were obtained, dopamine was infused for 11 to 89 minutes at 2.1 to 5.8 µg/kg/min. In 16 of 19 patients cardiac index increased (+26%) with no significant change in heart rate or oxygen consumption. Pulmonary resistance, when elevated, decreased, and peripheral resistance decreased whether initially elevated or normal. Glomerular filtration rate increased in 15 of 20 subjects (+38%), and renal plasma flow and sodium excretion increased in 19 of 20 patients by +79% and +486%, respectively. Dopamine is the only known catecholamine which causes an increase in cardiac output associated with a marked increase in sodium excretion, renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate