This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ARMSTRONG, P. W. Articles by SANDERS, C. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by ARMSTRONG, P. W. Articles by SANDERS, C. A.

(Circulation. 1971;44:67.)
© 1971 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

Hemodynamic Evaluation of Glucagon in Symptomatic Heart Disease

PAUL W. ARMSTRONG M.D.¹; HERMAN K. GOLD M.D.¹; WILLARD M. DAGGETT M.D.¹; W. GERALD AUSTEN M.D.¹; CHARLES A. SANDERS M.D.¹

¹ From the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Harvard Medical School, and the General Medical and Surgical Services of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Glucagon was administered as a 5 mg intravenous bolus in 26 patients. Studies were performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and soon after cardiac surgery. When the response to glucagon was compared on the basis of functional classification, patients with class I and II heart disease had a significantly greater increase in cardiac output (+700 ml) than patients with class III and IV heart disease (+100 ml). Isoproterenol augmented cardiac output by a significantly greater amount (+2500 ml) than glucagon in eight of these patients. It is concluded that glucagon is a less effective inotropic agent than isoproterenol and that glucagon's usefulness is limited in patients with advanced symptomatic heart disease.

Key Words: Inotropic • Isoproterenol • Postoperative • Preoperative • Functional classification

Submitted on December 21, 1970
Accepted on March 23, 1971