title: Effects of levosimendan on markers of left ventricular diastolic function and neurohormonal activation in patients with advanced heart failure.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology and Heart Failure Clinic, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. jparissis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farmakis
authors.forename: Stamatis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adamopoulos
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippatos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paraskevaidis
authors.forename: Koula
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venetsanou
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios Th
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kremastinos
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011724:Pyridazines; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000077464:Simendan