title: Improvement in Doppler alternans in patients with severe heart failure: Levosimendan versus dobutamin.
abstract: Mechanical alternans, an ominous sign of terminal systolic heart failure, could be indirectly shown by Doppler analysis. On the other hand, Levosimendan, a novel agent, improves contractility in patients with HF. We searched the effect of L versus dobutamin onto Doppler alternans in patients with systolic HF. We found that Levosimendan improves beat-to-beat alteration in patients with systolic HF, demonstrated by pulsed Doppler compared to dobutamin.
authors.forename: Mehmet Birhan
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karadas
authors.forename: Alim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Izzet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tandogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077464:Simendan; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan; D004280:Dobutamine