title: Efficacy of intravenous levosimendan in patients with heart failure complicated by acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a short-term intravenous infusion of levosimendan in patients with heart failure due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized, single-center, single-blind study that included 160 patients. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: 1 received levosimendan (n = 80) and the other received placebo (n = 80). The study included multiple primary end points (death, myocardial ischemia or worsening heart at the 6 month follow-up) and used a composite outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary end point rate in the levosimendan group was lower than that in placebo group (43.7 vs. 62.5%, HR 0.636, 95% CI 0.413-0.981, p = 0.041). Moreover, the mortality rate at 6 months was similar between the 2 groups (17.5 vs. 22.5%, HR 0.786, 95% CI 0.382-1.543, p = 0.458). There was a higher incidence of myocardial ischemia in the levosimendan group at 14 days than in the placebo group (11.2 vs. 7.5%, HR 1.510, p = 0.435), but between 15 and 180 days, it was significantly lower in the levosimendan group than in the placebo group (3.8 vs. 13.8%, HR 0.261, p = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term intravenous infusion of levosimendan appears to be more effective than placebo for treating patients with heart failure complicated by AMI.
authors.affiliation: TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital, Cardiovascular Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, TEDA, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Mu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yun-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Li-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077464:Simendan; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan