Comparative efficacy of short-term intravenous infusions of milrinone and dobutamine in acute congestive heart failure following acute myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study was to compare the hemodynamic and clinical effects of milrinone, a vasodilating and positive inotropic agent, with those of dobutamine in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Thirty-three patients in Killip classification II or III within 12 h to 5 days after AMI were randomized in a multicenter, open-label clinical trial to receive a 24-h infusion of milrinone or dobutamine. Drugs were titrated to achieve at least a 30% increase in cardiac index (CI) from mean baseline or at least a 25% decrease in mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (MPCWP) from baseline. Both drugs improved CI, MPCWP, and other hemodynamic parameters. Criteria for decrease in MPCWP were met by 94% (15/16) of the milrinone-treated patients and 57% (8/14) of dobutamine-treated patients (p = 0.03). Both groups met the minimum efficacy criterion for CI. Maximal reduction in MPCWP over 0-3 h was greater in the milrinone, group (-53.2%) than in the dobutamine group (-31.0%; p less than or equal to 0.01); reductions were sustained over 24 h. Both drugs improved echocardiographic global ejection fraction and were generally well tolerated. The short-term infusion of milrinone may have a role in the management of CHF following AMI, especially when the aim is the rapid reduction of pulmonary congestion.