Beneficial Hemodynamic Effects of Oral Levodopa in Heart Failure

Abstract

Among the positive inotropic drugs available to improve myocardial contractility in congestive heart failure, only digitalis glycosides are suitable for oral administration. In this study, we administered oral levodopa (1.5 to 2.0 g), which is decarboxylated to form dopamine, to 10 patients with severe congestive heart failure. Peak hemodynamic responses occurred one hour after the ingestion of levodopa, with the mean (±S.E.M.) cardiac index increasing from 1.8±0.1 to 2.4 ± 0.2 liters per minute per square meter of body-surface area (P-5 (P1-adrenergic, dopamine₁, and dopamine₂ receptors by dopamine derived from levodopa. (N Engl J Med 1984; 310:1357–62.)