Twelve patients in shock, defined as being present if the mean arterial blood pressure was less than 60 mm Hg, pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure was 15 mm Hg or greater, urine output was 20 ml or less for 2 consecutive hours, and there was clinical evidence of poor peripheral perfusion, underwent a comparative therapeutic trial with dopamine at 200 micrograms . min-1 and 400 micrograms . min-1 (2.5-5.5 micrograms . kg-1 . min-1), dobutamine 250 micrograms . min-1 and 500 micrograms . min-1 (3.5-7 micrograms . kg-1 . min-1) and isoproterenol 2 micrograms . min-1 and 4 micrograms . min-1 (0.025-0.055 micrograms . kg-1 . min-1). Isoproterenol at 2 micrograms . min-1, produced a significant increase in pulse rate, cardiac output, left ventricular stroke work index and decrease in mean pulmonary blood pressure and pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure and at 4 micrograms . min-1 a significant increase in stroke volume, mixed venous oxygen tension and decrease in right atrial pressure and systemic vascular resistance was also observed. Dopamine at 200 micrograms . min-1 produced a significant increase in cardiac output, pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure and mixed venous oxygen tension and at 400 micrograms . min-1 a significant increase in pulse rate, mean arterial blood pressure mean pulmonary blood pressure, right ventricular stroke work index, right atrial pressure and pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure and decrease in arterial oxygen tension was also observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)