A Hemodynamic Comparison of Dopamine and Isoproterenol in Patients in Shock

The hemodynamic responses to isoproterenol and dopamine were investigated in 22 patients with the shock syndrome from various etiologies. Dopamine was superior to isoproterenol in seven patients with normal or low peripheral resistance. In this group of patients administration of isoproterenol was associated with unacceptably low blood pressure. Isoproterenol was superior in three patients in whom dopamine did not increase cardiac output. Both amines produced adequate clinical response in four patients, and a combination of isoproterenol and dopamine was necessary for adequate therapy in two patients. Six patients did not respond hemodynamically or clinically to either dopamine or isoproterenol. This investigation has demonstrated that optimal sympathomimetic amine therapy of shock is facilitated by an analysis of hemodynamic status and responses to drug administration.