Levosimendan: a new approach for the treatment of patients with severe heart failure. A brief summary based on a clinical case.
Looking at the clinical report of a single patients admitted with severely decompensated heart failure and successfully managed with levosimendan, the authors review the current knowledge about this new drug. The treatment of severely decompensated heart failure is currently based on classical catecholamines (dopamine and dobutamine). The various new positive inotropics investigated in the past have failed to improve survival. In spite of some symptomatic improvement an increase in long-term mortality was noticed in different trials testing different drugs. More recently a new concept has been introduced regarding a new way to improve myocardial contractility and vasodilation based on calcium-sensitizing properties with additional action on adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels. Levosimendan is a representative of this new class recently launched in the Portuguese market.
Morais
João
J
Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santo Antré, Leiria.
Dias
Berta
B
Pontes
Nuno
N
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000077464:Simendan
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan