{{short description|Endogenous agent or pharmaceutical drug that affects blood pressure / heart rate}} {{Refimprove|date=May 2010}}
A '''vasoactive''' substance is an [[endogenous]] agent or [[pharmaceutical drug]] that has the effect of either increasing or decreasing [[blood pressure]] and/or [[heart rate]] through its '''vasoactivity''', that is, vascular activity (effect on [[blood vessel]]s). By adjusting [[compliance (physiology)#Blood vessels|vascular compliance]] and [[vascular resistance]], typically through [[vasodilation]] and [[vasoconstriction]], it helps the body's [[homeostasis|homeostatic]] mechanisms (such as the [[renin–angiotensin system]]) to keep [[hemodynamics]] under control. For example, [[angiotensin]], [[bradykinin]], [[histamine]], [[nitric oxide]], and [[vasoactive intestinal peptide]] are important endogenous vasoactive substances. Vasoactive drug therapy is typically used when a patient has the blood pressure and heart rate [[monitoring (medicine)|monitored]] constantly. The [[dose (biochemistry)|dosage]] is typically titrated (adjusted up or down) to achieve a desired effect or [[reference range|range of values]] as determined by competent clinicians.
Vasoactive drugs are typically administered using a volumetric infusion device (IV pump). This category of [[drug]]s require close observation of the patient with near immediate intervention required by the [[clinician]]s in charge of the patient's care. Important vasoactive substances are [[angiotensin]]-11, [[endothelin]]-1, and alpha-[[adrenergic agonist]]s.
Various vasoactive agents, such as [[prostanoid]]s, [[phosphodiesterase inhibitor]]s, and endothelin antagonists, are approved for the treatment of [[pulmonary arterial hypertension]]. The use of vasoactive agents for patients with pulmonary hypertension may cause harm and unnecessary expense to persons with [[heart failure#Left-sided failure|left heart disease]] or [[hypoxemia|hypoxemic]] types of [[respiratory disease|lung disease]]s.<ref name="ACCPandATSfive">{{Citation |author1 = American College of Chest Physicians |author1-link = American College of Chest Physicians |author2 = American Thoracic Society |author2-link = American Thoracic Society |date = September 2013 |title = Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question |publisher = American College of Chest Physicians and American Thoracic Society |work = [[Choosing Wisely]]: an initiative of the [[ABIM Foundation]] |url = http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/american-college-of-chest-physicians-and-american-thoracic-society/ |access-date = 6 January 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Drugs]]
{{cardiovascular-drug-stub}}