Skip to main content

Inotropic Effects

Meaning

Inotropic Effects refer to the influence of a substance or intervention on the force or energy of muscular contractions, particularly concerning the cardiac muscle, or myocardium. A positive inotropic effect increases the strength of contraction, while a negative effect decreases it. These effects are clinically significant as they directly determine the heart’s stroke volume and, consequently, its cardiac output. Pharmacological agents that modulate inotropy are cornerstones in the treatment of various cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure.