Medicaments for treating cardiogenic shock, and other shock states - contg. dopamine and a cardioactive nitrite or nitrate, pref. in the form of an infusion solution

Medicaments contain 4-(2-aminoethyl)-pyrocatechol (dopamine) combination with a cardioactive nitrate and/or nitrite of 1:1 to 10:1 w/w. An example describes the prepn. of an infusion formulation. 100mg dopamine, 10 mg trinitroglycerine, 10 mg potassium metabisulphite and 1 ml ethanol are mixed under N2, diluted to 10 ml with water for injection, and filled into ampoules under sterile conditions. Intravenous admin. of the new combination greatly lowers mortality due to cardiac infarct. In one trial in patients with cardia infract involving cardiogenic shock, 12 patients were given infusion at 175-300 mu g/min dopamine and 50-100 mu g/min nitroglycerine for 18-36 hrs. 6 of the 12 patients survived, giving a survival rate of 50% compared with the 80-90% usually expected.