Abstract
Blood concentrations of dopexamine were measured in five female patients during and after orthotopic liver transplantation. Each patient received a continuous infusion of the drug (2 micrograms kg-1 min-1), starting at induction of anaesthesia and finishing 48 h afterwards. Blood concentrations of dopexamine increased rapidly at the start of the infusion, to a mean (range) value of 64 (40-150) ng ml-1 after 20 min. Blood concentrations of dopexamine increased further during the anhepatic period of surgery, to 236 (180-410) ng ml-1. On reperfusion of the donor liver, concentrations of dopexamine decreased rapidly, reaching similar values to the maximum seen during the dissection period. Steady-state was not reached during either the dissection or anhepatic periods. From 1-2 h after revascularisation the mean (range) steady-state concentration was 85 (69-102) ng ml-1 corresponding to a mean (range) clearance of 24 (20-29) ml min-1 kg -1. These results suggest that the liver plays a significant role in the clearance of dopexamine.