Vasoconstrictor responses to vasopressor agents in human pulmonary and radial arteries: An in vitro study

Abstract

Background: Vasopressor drugs, commonly used to treat systemic hypotension and maintain organ perfusion, may also induce regional vasoconstriction in specialized vascular beds such as the lung. An increase in pulmonary vascular tone may adversely affect patients with pulmonary hypertension or right heart failure. While sympathomimetics constrict pulmonary vessels, and vasopressin does not, a direct comparison between these drugs has not been made. This study investigated the effects of clinically used vasopressor agents on human isolated pulmonary and radial arteries.Results: The sympathomimetics norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and metaraminol caused concentration-dependent vasoconstriction i..