Key Points
- To determine the effects of intravenous glucagon on left coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption in humans and dogs.
- Administered intravenous glucagon (50 µg/kg) to nine human patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization and six open-chested anesthetized dogs.
- Measured left coronary blood flow using the xenon-133 washout technique in humans and an electromagnetic flowmeter on the left anterior descending coronary artery in dogs.
- In human patients, glucagon increased coronary blood flow by 31% and myocardial oxygen consumption by 29%, while coronary arteriovenous oxygen difference remained unchanged.
- In dogs, glucagon increased coronary blood flow by 114% and myocardial oxygen consumption by 131%, also without altering the coronary arteriovenous oxygen difference.
- Glucagon produced chronotropic and inotropic effects in humans that were only half as pronounced as those observed in dogs, establishing glucagon as a secondary coronary vasodilator in both species.
Structured PICO
Does intravenous glucagon affect coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption in humans and dogs?
PPopulation9 patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization and 6 open-chested anesthetized dogs
IInterventionIntravenous administration of glucagon (50 µg/kg)
OOutcomeLeft coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumptionsurrogate
Intravenous glucagon acts as a secondary coronary vasodilator, increasing coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption in both humans and dogs.
Limitations
- Different experimental conditions between species may affect dose-response relationship