Milrinone is a potent non-catecholamine, non-glycoside inotropic agent that can improve hemodynamic performance and functional capacity in patients with severe congestive heart failure. However, the potential effect of chronic inotropic stimulation on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure requires evaluation. We compared 24-hour ambulatory ECGs before and 2 to 4 weeks after initiation of chronic milrinone therapy in 20 patients with severe congestive heart failure (mean cardiac index 1.79 +/- 0.43 L/min/m2). A greater than tenfold increase in simple ventricular premature complex (VPC) density, a greater than tenfold increase in complex VPC form density, or an increase from 0 to greater than 5 episodes per 24 hours of any complex VPC form occurred in 35% (7 of 20) of patients. A greater than tenfold reduction in simple VPC density was noted in 5% (1 of 20), while 60% (12 of 20) of the study group had no significant change in ventricular arrhythmia profile on milrinone. The hemodynamic and functional response to milrinone, as well as entry hemodynamic profiles, were unrelated to the change in frequency or complexity of ventricular arrhythmias during therapy. Thus, milrinone therapy in congestive heart failure may be associated with the development of VPC complexity and with a significantly increased density of complex VPC forms.