title: Preliminary clinical experience with the repetitive administration of levosimendan in patients with end-stage heart failure.
abstract: We present our preliminary clinical experience with the initial and repetitive administration of the novel inotropic agent levosimendan in a cohort of 20 patients with end-stage heart failure who were acutely decompensated or whose symptoms were refractory to the usual pharmacological treatments thus necessitating hospitalization. Repetitive levosimendan infusions were administered to 9 patients (minimum 2, maximum 8 pulses). The effects of this therapy on the symptomatic status, vital signs, hemodynamic performance and clinical outcomes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, A Onassis Heart Center, 356 Syngrou Ave, 176 74 Athens, Greece. kspargias@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Konstantinos S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Spargias
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anifantakis
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iakovis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chatzigeorgiou
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koutsogiannis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatasakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Athanassopoulos
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manginas
authors.forename: Themos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maounis
authors.forename: Dennis V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Cokkinos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004298:Dopamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000077464:Simendan; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan; D004280:Dobutamine; D011188:Potassium; D004298:Dopamine