Steady-state pharmacokinetics of dopamine in adult patients

Objective: To study the pharmacokinetics of dopamine in hemodynamically stable adult patients. Desing: Prospective clinical study. Setting: University hospital intensive care unit. Patients: Fourteen patients (aged 43 to 73 yrs) recovering from esophageal surgery. Intervention: Dopamine was infused and blood samples were collected Measurements and Main Results: Plasma dopamine concentrations were measured at steady state and subsequently at the end of the dopamine infusion using high-performance liquid chromatography. Clearances, volume of distribution, mean residence times, half-lives, and elimination and distribution rate constant were derived