Biomaterial Database

Dose equivalence for metaraminol and noradrenaline - A retrospective analysis. 2024

Rahul Costa-Pinto, and Ary Serpa Neto, and Madeline Coxwell Matthewman, and Dean Osrin, and Grace Liskaser, and Jasun Li, and Marcus Young, and Daryl Jones, and Andrew Udy, and Stephen Warrillow, and Rinaldo Bellomo

Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia; Department of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: rahul.costa-pinto@austin.org.au.

BACKGROUND Noradrenaline and metaraminol are commonly used vasopressors in critically ill patients. However, little is known of their dose equivalence. METHODS We conducted a single centre retrospective cohort study of all ICU patients who transitioned from metaraminol to noradrenaline infusions between August 26, 2016 and December 31, 2020. Patients receiving additional vasoactive drug infusion were excluded. Dose equivalence was calculated based on the last hour metaraminol dose (in μg/min) and the first hour noradrenaline dose (in μg/min) with the closest matched mean arterial pressure (MAP). Sensitivity analyses were performed on patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), sepsis and mechanical ventilation. RESULTS We studied 195 patients. The median conversion ratio of metaraminol to noradrenaline was 12.5:1 (IQR 7.5-20.0) for the overall cohort. However, the coefficient of variation was 77% and standard deviation was 11.8. Conversion ratios were unaffected by sepsis or mechanical ventilation but increased (14:1) with AKI. One in five patients had a MAP decrease of >10 mmHg during the transition period from metaraminol to noradrenaline. Post-transition noradrenaline dose (p < 0.001) and AKI (p = 0.045) were independently associated with metaraminol dose. The proportion of variation in noradrenaline dose predicted from metaraminol dose was low (R2 = 0.545). CONCLUSIONS The median dose equivalence for metaraminol and noradrenaline in this study was 12.5:1. However, there was significant variance in dose equivalence, only half the proportion of variation in noradrenaline infusion dose was predicted by metaraminol dose, and conversion-associated hypotension was common.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008680	Metaraminol	A sympathomimetic agent that acts predominantly at alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. It has been used primarily as a vasoconstrictor in the treatment of HYPOTENSION.	Isophenylephrine,Metaradrin,m-Hydroxynorephedrine,meta-Hydroxynorephedrine,Aramine,Araminol,Hydroxyphenylpropanolamine,Metaraminol Bitartrate,Metaraminol Bitartrate (1:1),Metaraminol Tartrate,m-Hydroxyphenylpropanolamine,Bitartrate, Metaraminol,Tartrate, Metaraminol,m Hydroxynorephedrine,m Hydroxyphenylpropanolamine,meta Hydroxynorephedrine
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189	Retrospective Studies	Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons.	Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D058186	Acute Kidney Injury	Abrupt reduction in kidney function. Acute kidney injury encompasses the entire spectrum of the syndrome including acute kidney failure; ACUTE KIDNEY TUBULAR NECROSIS; and other less severe conditions.	Acute Kidney Failure,Acute Kidney Insufficiency,Acute Renal Failure,Acute Renal Injury,Acute Renal Insufficiency,Kidney Failure, Acute,Kidney Insufficiency, Acute,Renal Failure, Acute,Renal Insufficiency, Acute,Acute Kidney Failures,Acute Kidney Injuries,Acute Kidney Insufficiencies,Acute Renal Failures,Acute Renal Injuries,Acute Renal Insufficiencies,Kidney Failures, Acute,Kidney Injuries, Acute,Kidney Injury, Acute,Kidney Insufficiencies, Acute,Renal Failures, Acute,Renal Injuries, Acute,Renal Injury, Acute,Renal Insufficiencies, Acute
D018805	Sepsis	Systemic inflammatory response syndrome with a proven or suspected infectious etiology. When sepsis is associated with organ dysfunction distant from the site of infection, it is called severe sepsis. When sepsis is accompanied by HYPOTENSION despite adequate fluid infusion, it is called SEPTIC SHOCK.	Bloodstream Infection,Pyaemia,Pyemia,Pyohemia,Blood Poisoning,Poisoning, Blood,Septicemia,Severe Sepsis,Blood Poisonings,Bloodstream Infections,Infection, Bloodstream,Poisonings, Blood,Pyaemias,Pyemias,Pyohemias,Sepsis, Severe,Septicemias