The comparison of two invasive studies using intravenous application of the phosphodiesterase enoximone demonstrated unchanged cardiac output in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy NYHA II-III, and increased cardiac output (from 3.22 +/- 1.15 to 5.04 +/- 2.05 l/min; p less than 0.01) in acute heart failure. This comparison of hemodynamic parameters in addition to studies on myocardial oxygen consumption support the use of intravenous enoximone in acute heart failure, whereas the long-term application of enoximone in chronic heart failure is judged to be critical.