[Levosimendan. Clinical indications of a new vasoactive substance].
Levosimendan is a recently developed drug which is not yet approved for clinical routine use in Germany. The clinical use is limited to a few selected cases and it has been used as a salvage therapy in patients with severe heart insufficiency. As a potent inodilator it has been given to patients with severe heart failure, when all other therapeutic options have failed. However, in some European countries levosimendan is used in clinical routine situations and the European Society of Cardiologists has included the drug in their guidelines for treatment of acute heart failure. The following article describes the main pharmacological characteristics of levosimendan and summarises the indications for this new drug for physicians working in the field of anaesthesia or intensive care.
Klinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Berlin. jan.braun@charite.de
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JP
Braun
U
U
Döpfmer
M
M
Kastrup
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I
Roots
A
A
Borges
M
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Schneider
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P
Dohmen
W
W
Kox
C
C
Spies
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D000077464:Simendan
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan