Milrinone

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 79 - 86
• Main Authors: Keister, D. Mark, Kittleson, Mark D., Bonagura, John D., Pipers, Frank S., Knauer, Kenneth W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.1990
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1990.tb03107.x

Milrinone, a positive inotropic drug with vasodilating properties, was administered at doses of 0.5 to 1 mg/kg orally twice daily to 29 dogs with moderateto severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Significant echocardiographic improvement in ventricular systolic function was observed after 3 days of administration of milrinone and at the patients' last echocardiographic observation (day 21in 25 subjects, day 7 in 2 subjects, and day 3 in 2 subjects). Echocardiographic shortening fraction at the initial measurement had a median increase of 6.14%(P < 0.001), and for the last observation a 2.83% increase (P < 0.005). Most patients also showed improvement in their clinical signs as assessed by the veterinarian (72%) and by owner's evaluation (81%). No consistent problem or adverse reaction to milrinone was observed, except for a small number ofclinically manageable ventricular dysrhythmias. Milrinone appears in this trialto be effective for the treatment of advanced CHF in dogs.