title: Levosimendan and calcium sensitization of the contractile proteins in cardiac muscle: impact on heart failure.
abstract: Levosimendan increases the sensitivity of the cardiac fibrils to calcium, favorably affects hemodynamics in patients with heart failure. It is a positive inotrope and a peripheral vasodilator. The elimination half-life of the compound is about 1 hour. The drug decreases pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increases cardiac output with the improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction leading to symptomatic improvement which includes decreased dyspnea and fatigue. Levosimendan can be used safely with diuretics, nitrates, beta-blockers, digoxin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The most common adverse effects of levosimendan are headache and hypotension. Prolongation of the QTc interval does not appear to increase the incidence of arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and torsades de pointes. Levosimendan is a novel agent in the treatment of decompensated heart failure, representing a newer class of medications aimed at increasing calcium sensitivity. Its properties holds promise for the treatment of heart failure but further large-scale studies will be needed to determine its precise efficacy, safety, as well as the compound's long-term impact on mortality.
authors.affiliation: West LA VA Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Bindu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kota
authors.forename: Aditya S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Economides
authors.forename: Bramah N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077464:Simendan
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan; D002118:Calcium