Effects of levosimendan on markers of left ventricular diastolic function and neurohormonal activation in patients with advanced heart failure.
In this randomized, placebo-controlled study, it was found that a 24-hour levosimendan infusion improves echocardiographic markers of abnormal left ventricular diastolic function (transmitral flow patterns and mitral annulus velocities, as assessed by transthoracic pulse-wave Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging, respectively) and reduces substances of excessive neurohormonal activation (plasma B-type natriuretic peptide and interleukin-6) in patients with advanced heart failure. Moreover, levosimendan-treated patients had fewer events and longer progression-free survival during a 5-month follow-up compared with those who received placebo. Thus, levosimendan seems to be effective in improving left ventricular diastolic function and reducing neurohormonal activation in patients with severe heart failure.
Parissis
John T
JT
Second Department of Cardiology and Heart Failure Clinic, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. jparissis@yahoo.com
Panou
Fotios
F
Farmakis
Dimitrios
D
Adamopoulos
Stamatis
S
Filippatos
Gerasimos
G
Paraskevaidis
Ioannis
I
Venetsanou
Koula
K
Lekakis
John
J
Kremastinos
Dimitrios Th
DT
D000368:Aged; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077464:Simendan; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011724:Pyridazines; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000077464:Simendan