FOCUS ON MILRINONE - DEFINING ITS ROLE AS AN IV POSITIVE INOTROPIC AGENT FOR CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE

Milrinone is a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor with positive inotrop ic, lusitropic, and vasodilator properties. Milrinone is FDA-approved for short-term IV therapy of congestive heart failure (CHF). Advantage s of milrinone include a decreased incidence of thrombocytopenia compa red with amrinone, less tachycardia and no increase in myocardial oxyg en consumption compared with dobutamine, and less hypotension compared with nitroprusside. Adverse reactions associated with milrinone inclu de arrhythmogenesis, hypotension, angina, and thrombocytopenia. In pat ients with CHF, milrinone may be useful as an adjunct to existing inot ropic and vasodilator therapy or in patients who are intolerant to the side effects of amrinone.