title: Effect of levosimendan on ventriculo-arterial coupling in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Levosimendan, a novel calcium sensitizer, enhances myocardial contractility without affecting intracellular calcium concentration. It also dilates peripheral arterial vessels by acting on ATP-dependent K(+) channels. Ventriculo-arterial coupling, the relationship between myocardial contractility and the arterial system, describes the efficiency of the cardiovascular system by analysing the relationship between myocardial contractility expressed by ventricular elastance (E(es)) and arterial elastance (E(a)). The aim of this prospective clinical investigation was to evaluate the effects of levosimendan on ventriculo-arterial coupling in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with stable angina and left ventricular dysfunction underwent elective coronary surgery. Before surgery started, ventriculo-arterial coupling and several variables of cardiovascular performance were assessed by invasive monitoring and transoesophageal echocardiography before and after administration of levosimendan (12 mug/kg bolus) in coronary patients under general anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cardiac index and ejection fraction increased significantly [from 1.92 +/- 0.4 to 2.1 +/- 0.4 l/min/m(2) (P = 0.0004) and from 31% +/- 6 to 40% +/- 9 (P = 0.001), respectively], while mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistances decreased significantly [from 83 +/- 10 to 72 +/- 5 mmHg (P = 0.0016) and from 997 +/- 341 to 855 +/- 324 dyne s/cm(5) (P = 0.0002), respectively]. After administration of levosimendan, E(a) decreased significantly (from 4.3 +/- 1.8 to 3.2 +/- 1.3 mmHg/ml/m(2), P= 0.005), while E(es) significantly increased (from 2.8 +/- 1.6 to 4.4 +/- 2.3 mmHg/ml/m(2), P= 0.05); as a result, E(a)/E(es) decreased significantly (from 1.76 +/- 1 to 0.83 +/- 0.2, P= 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levosimendan improves ventriculo-arterial coupling and cardiovascular performance in coronary patients with left ventricular dysfunction by enhancing myocardial contractility and reducing arterial elastance.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Cardiothoracic Department, University Hospital of Pisa, Italy. fabiodoc64@hotmail.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarracino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cariello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danella
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Doroni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lapolla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldassarri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vullo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077464:Simendan; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan