Levosimendan improves exercise performance in patients with advanced chronic heart failure.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) provides parameters such as peak VO₂ and ventilation/CO₂ production (VE/VCO₂) slope, which are strong prognostic predictors in patients with stable advanced chronic heart failure (ADHF). The study aim was to evaluate the effects of the inodilator levosimendan on CPET in patients with ADHF under stable clinical conditions.

Methods and results

We enrolled patients with ADHF (peak VO₂ < 12 mL/min/kg) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol. Patients were randomly assigned to i.v. infusion of placebo (500 mL 5% glucose; n = 19) or levosimendan (in 500 mL 5% glucose; n = 23). Before and 24 h after the end of the infusion, patients underwent determination of New York Heart As

SUBMITTER: Mushtaq S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5042087 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature