Hemodynamic Effects of Aminophylline in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ten patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease without complicating cor pulmonale were studied by right and left heart catheterization. Hemodynamic and respiratory observations were made during a control period and during the infusion of 1 g of aminophylline. Aminophylline produced a significant reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure from 19.7 mm Hg to 14.8 mm Hg, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure from 3.4 mm Hg to 1.4 mm Hg, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure from 6.5 mm Hg to 2.9 mm Hg, and the brachial artery mean pressure from 96.7 mm Hg to 86.2 mm Hg. The heart rate, oxygen consumption, and cardiac index increased. There was a significant fall in both peripheral and pulmonary vascular resistance. Evidence is presented to suggest that the decrease in pulmonary artery and systemic pressures was due to pulmonary and peripheral arteriolar dilatation.