%0 Journal Article
%T Efficiency and Safety of Prolonged Levosimendan Infusion in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
%A Georgios Aidonidis
%A Ioannis Kanonidis
%A Vasileios Koutsimanis
%A Till Neumann
%A Raimund Erbel
%A Georgios Sakadamis
%J Cardiology Research and Practice
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.4061/2011/342302
%X Background. Levosimendan is an inotropic drug with unique pharmacological advantages in patients with acute heart failure. Scope of this study is to determine whether longer infusion patterns without the hypotension-inducing loading dose could justify an effective and safe alternative approach. Methods. 70 patients admitted to the emergencies with decompensated chronic heart failure received intravenously levosimendan without a loading dose up to 72 hours. Clinical parameters, BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) and signal-averaged-ECG data (SAECG) were recorded up to 72 hours. Results. The 48-hour group demonstrated a statistically significant BNP decrease (<.001) after 48 hours, which also maintained after 72 hours. The 72-hour group demonstrated a bordeline decrease of BNP after 48 hours (=.039), necessitating an additional 24-hour infusion to achieve significant reduction after 72 hours (=.004). SAECG data demonstrated a statistically significant decrease after 72 hours (=.04). Apart from two deaths due to advanced heart failure, no major complications were observed. Conclusion. Prolonged infusion of levosimendan without a loading dose is associated with an acceptable clinical and neurohumoral response.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crp/2011/342302/