# Vasoactivity

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Endogenous agent or pharmaceutical drug that affects blood pressure / heart rate

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A **vasoactive** substance is an [endogenous](/source/Endogenous) agent or [pharmaceutical drug](/source/Pharmaceutical_drug) that has the effect of either increasing or decreasing [blood pressure](/source/Blood_pressure) and/or [heart rate](/source/Heart_rate) through its **vasoactivity**, that is, vascular activity (effect on [blood vessels](/source/Blood_vessel)). By adjusting [vascular compliance](/source/Compliance_(physiology)#Blood_vessels) and [vascular resistance](/source/Vascular_resistance), typically through [vasodilation](/source/Vasodilation) and [vasoconstriction](/source/Vasoconstriction), it helps the body's [homeostatic](/source/Homeostasis) mechanisms (such as the [renin–angiotensin system](/source/Renin%E2%80%93angiotensin_system)) to keep [hemodynamics](/source/Hemodynamics) under control. For example, [angiotensin](/source/Angiotensin), [bradykinin](/source/Bradykinin), [histamine](/source/Histamine), [nitric oxide](/source/Nitric_oxide), and [vasoactive intestinal peptide](/source/Vasoactive_intestinal_peptide) are important endogenous vasoactive substances. Vasoactive drug therapy is typically used when a patient has the blood pressure and heart rate [monitored](/source/Monitoring_(medicine)) constantly. The [dosage](/source/Dose_(biochemistry)) is typically titrated (adjusted up or down) to achieve a desired effect or [range of values](/source/Reference_range) as determined by competent clinicians.

Vasoactive drugs are typically administered using a volumetric infusion device (IV pump). This category of [drugs](/source/Drug) require close observation of the patient with near immediate intervention required by the [clinicians](/source/Clinician) in charge of the patient's care. Important vasoactive substances are [angiotensin](/source/Angiotensin)-11, [endothelin](/source/Endothelin)-1, and alpha-[adrenergic agonists](/source/Adrenergic_agonist).

Various vasoactive agents, such as [prostanoids](/source/Prostanoid), [phosphodiesterase inhibitors](/source/Phosphodiesterase_inhibitor), and endothelin antagonists, are approved for the treatment of [pulmonary arterial hypertension](/source/Pulmonary_arterial_hypertension). The use of vasoactive agents for patients with pulmonary hypertension may cause harm and unnecessary expense to persons with [left heart disease](/source/Heart_failure#Left-sided_failure) or [hypoxemic](/source/Hypoxemia) types of [lung diseases](/source/Respiratory_disease).[1]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ACCPandATSfive_1-0)** [American College of Chest Physicians](/source/American_College_of_Chest_Physicians); [American Thoracic Society](/source/American_Thoracic_Society) (September 2013), ["Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question"](http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/american-college-of-chest-physicians-and-american-thoracic-society/), *[Choosing Wisely](/source/Choosing_Wisely): an initiative of the [ABIM Foundation](/source/ABIM_Foundation)*, American College of Chest Physicians and American Thoracic Society, retrieved 6 January 2013

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