Therapeutic effect of early low dose dopamine combined with furosemide on patients with heart failure

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of early low dose of dopamine combined with furosemide in treatment of patients with severe heart failure. Methods A total of 255 patients with Newyork Heart Association (NYHA) class III and class IV were enrolled in the present study and were randomized into two groups. Dopamine group included 128 patients who were given low dose of dopamine (2-3 μg·kg-1·min-1) combined with intravenous furosemide(20-40 mg/d); diuretic group included 127 patients who received furosemide(20-40 mg/d). Coronary care unit (CCU) stay,the incidence of diuretic resistance,dialysis,worsening of renal failure and causes of death were observed. Results CCU stays were (3.75±1.20) days and (4.13±1.54) days (P=0.030) in the dopamine group and diuretic group,respectively. Three patients in the dopamine group and 27 patients in the diuretic group showed diuretic resistance (P=0.000). Worsening of renal failure occurred in 11 cases in the dopamine group and 34 cases in the diuretic group (P=0.000). One patient in the dopamine group and 6 patients in diuretic group needed dialysis treatment (P0.05). There was no death in the dopamine group and there were 4 death cases in the diuretic group (P0.05). Conclusion Early use of low dose dopamine combined with furosemide can improve the symptoms of patients with heart failure more effectively in shorter time through reducing the fluid retention.