Levosimendan allows detection of contractile reserve in patients with chronic ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction and non-diagnostic dobutamine echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Dobutamine echocardiography is commonly used to detect contractile reserve in ischaemic left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, although its sensitivity and specificity are not optimal. We tested the hypothesis that echocardiography with levosimendan could identify contractile reserve in patients with a non-diagnostic dobutamine test.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with LV ejection fraction <40% and non-diagnostic dobutamine echocardiography underwent levosimendan challenge (24 microg/kg in 10 min) prior to coronary angioplasty or surgery.


RESULTS
Contractile reserve was identified by levosimendan in 10 patients (Gr. A) but was not seen in 12 patients (Gr. B). With levosimendan, LV ejection fraction increased and wall motion score index decreased significantly in Gr. A, but only slightly in Gr. B. Similarly, mean mitral annular plane excursion and peak systolic mitral annular motion velocity increased significantly in Gr. A only. Six months after revascularisation, contractile reserve was seen in 8/10 Gr. A patients but in only 2/12 Gr. B patients (80% vs 17%, p=0.011). LV ejection fraction, wall motion score index, mean mitral annular plane excursion and peak systolic mitral annular motion velocity were significantly higher in Gr. A than in Gr. B.


CONCLUSIONS
Levosimendan echocardiography can identify contractile reserve in a sizeable proportion of patients with chronic ischaemic LV dysfunction and a non-diagnostic dobutamine test.
Cianfrocca
Cinzia
C
Department of Cardiology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy. c.cianfrocca@mclink.it
Pelliccia
Francesco
F
Auriti
Antonio
A
Guido
Vincenzo
V
Pasceri
Vincenzo
V
Li
Xue
X
Richichi
Giuseppe
G
Mercuro
Giuseppe
G
Santini
Massimo
M
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan; D004280:Dobutamine