Impact of milrinone on mitral annular velocity in patients with congestive heart failure

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of milrinone on mitral annular velocity in patients with congestive heart failure. Method We studied 27 patients with congestive heart failure. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography both before and after administration of milrinone. We measured the early transmitral velocity ( E ) and the mitral annular early diastolic velocity (Ea). The ratio of E to Ea ( E /Ea) was calculated. After the baseline echocardiography, milrinone was administered as a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.25 μg/kg/min. Echocardiographic measurements were repeated 4 h after milrinone was begun. Results After administration of milrinone, Ea was significantly increased, while E /Ea was significantly decreased. The population of 27 patients was divided into 20 (74 %) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)