Milrinone

**Semantic type:** Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** A cardiovascular bipyridine agent and phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, with positive inotropic and vasodilator activities. Upon administration, milrinone selectively inhibits PDE-mediated degradation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the heart and vascular muscles, thereby increasing cAMP and activates protein kinase A (PKA). This leads to phosphorylation of calcium ion channels and improve myocardium contractile force. Milrinone also causes vasodilation in arteriolar and venous vascular smooth muscle.

**Synonyms:** - MILRINONE