title: Enhancement of myocardial function and reduction of injury with levosimendan after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the short-term clinical effects of levosimendan in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with myocardial stunning after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 30 patients with AMI who received emergency PCI and satisfied the inclusion criteria. Levosimendan was given as a continuous infusion of 0.1 μg/kg/min for 24 h, and the remaining 10 patients received placebo treatment. The patients were observed with invasive haemodynamic monitoring and were evaluated biochemically and echocardiographically before and after the drug infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following treatment, biochemical indices (not including creatine kinase and its MB fraction) were significantly lower in the levosimendan group than in the placebo group. Meanwhile, left-ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance were significantly reduced in the levosimendan group, whereas the early-to-late diastolic velocities ratio, LV ejection fraction, cardiac index and cardiac power index were increased. Troponin I levels were reduced and fewer stunned and infarction segments were observed in the patients treated with levosimendan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levosimendan can significantly improve the myocardium function of patients with myocardial stunning after PCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiushao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xifu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yanzhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017682:Myocardial Stunning / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077464:Simendan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan