Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomized comparison of intravenous amrinone versus dobutamine in older patients with decompensated congestive heart failure.
To compare the hemodynamic effects of amrinone and dobutamine in patients 75 years of age or older who have severe congestive heart failure requiring invasive hemodynamic monitoring and inotropic support. ⋯ Both amrinone and dobutamine are efficacious in improving hemodynamics in older patients with severe congestive heart failure caused by left ventricular contractile dysfunction. Despite the effect of aging on beta-adrenergic responsiveness, dobutamine is at least as effective as amrinone but may be associated with a higher incidence of arrhythmic side effects.