Is dopamine a vasoconstrictor or a vasodilator?
Both! It depends on the rate of infusion.
At low rates of infusion (0.5 to 2 mcg/kg/min), dopamine causes vasodilation that is presumed to be due to a specific agonist action on dopamine receptors in the renal, mesenteric, coronary and intracerebral vascular beds.
At higher rates of infusion (10-20 mcg/kg/min), there is some effect on alpha- adrenoceptors, with consequent vasoconstrictor effects and a rise in blood pressure. The vasoconstrictor effects are first seen in the skeletal muscle vascular beds, but with increasing doses, they are also evident in the renal and mesenteric vessels.
In simple words:
If it is less than 5mcg/kg/min, vasodilation!
If it is more than 5mcg/kg/min, vasoconstriction!
How do I remember this? Mnemonic!
Here's a mnemonic submitted to us by Karishma Gupta on the same :D
That's all!
Thanks Karishma for submitting this to us! Send us more!
-IkaN
Both! It depends on the rate of infusion.
At low rates of infusion (0.5 to 2 mcg/kg/min), dopamine causes vasodilation that is presumed to be due to a specific agonist action on dopamine receptors in the renal, mesenteric, coronary and intracerebral vascular beds.
At higher rates of infusion (10-20 mcg/kg/min), there is some effect on alpha- adrenoceptors, with consequent vasoconstrictor effects and a rise in blood pressure. The vasoconstrictor effects are first seen in the skeletal muscle vascular beds, but with increasing doses, they are also evident in the renal and mesenteric vessels.
In simple words:
If it is less than 5mcg/kg/min, vasodilation!
If it is more than 5mcg/kg/min, vasoconstriction!
How do I remember this? Mnemonic!
Here's a mnemonic submitted to us by Karishma Gupta on the same :D
 |
| Dopamine - Effect on blood vessels |
Thanks Karishma for submitting this to us! Send us more!
-IkaN
That's a beautiful way of remembering things. I'll use it for other number facts as well. Thanks (:
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome, rEam :)
DeleteSimple and useful mnomonic 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
Delete