Intermittent dobutamine treatment in patients with chronic refractory congestive heart failure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1998 Jun;63(6):682-5. doi: 10.1016/S0009-9236(98)90092-3.

Abstract

Background: Intravenous dobutamine administration improves short-term hemodynamics in patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the clinical benefit of periodic administration remains controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent dobutamine administration in patients with refractory CHF.

Methods: Nineteen patients with New York Heart Association class III/IV, ischemia-induced CHF participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All patients received intravenous dobutamine or placebo over a 24-hour period every 2 to 3 weeks for 6 months. They were also treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, and diuretics. The number of admissions for CHF and mortality rate were compared.

Results: Ten patients received dobutamine and nine received placebo. The pretreatment characteristics were similar in both groups. No statistically significant difference was observed between the number of admissions for CHF (p = 0.11). The median survival after enrollment was 7.97 months in the placebo group and 4.6 months in the dobutamine group. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves overlay, with no statistically significant difference between the treatment arms (p = 0.7).

Conclusion: Intermittent dobutamine infusions in patients with refractory CHF have no effect on the need for hospitalization or on survival.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Aged
  • Cardiotonic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dobutamine / administration & dosage
  • Dobutamine / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Myocardial Ischemia / complications
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Dobutamine