PMID- 26289557
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20160422
LR  - 20221207
IS  - 1643-3750 (Electronic)
IS  - 1234-1010 (Print)
IS  - 1234-1010 (Linking)
VI  - 21
DP  - 2015 Aug 20
TI  - Levosimendan Improves Clinical Outcomes of Refractory Heart Failure in Elderly 
      Chinese Patients.
PG  - 2439-45
LID - 10.12659/MSM.893580 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND: Levosimendan has been extensively used to treat heart failure (HF) 
      for nearly 10 years, but data on levosimendan used in elderly patients with 
      refractory HF remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 
      levosimendan on elderly patients with intractable HF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 
      total of 268 patients with HF (over 70 years, New York Heart Association [NYHA] 
      classification III-IV, LVEF </=40%, plasma NT-proBNP >/=1000 pg/mL) received 
      conventional anti-HF therapies for 2 weeks. Such therapies include the limiting 
      of salt intake, increasing myocardial contractility (without levosimendan), 
      inducing urine, antagonizing aldosterone, antagonizing myocardial remodeling, 
      and, if necessary, using antibiotics. Our study included 42 patients without 
      symptoms whose improvement was re-evaluated and presented in NYHA class III-IV, 
      LVEF </=40%, plasma NT-proBNP >/=1000.0 pg/mL, and serum creatinine <110.0 micromol/L. 
      These patients were divided into an experimental groups (n=21, treated with 
      levosimendan) and a control group (n=21, continuously given regular treatment as 
      before). After 1 week, 42 patients were assessed for changes in NYHA 
      classification, LVEF, and NT-proBNP. RESULTS: No severe complications related to 
      levosimendan were noted. Compared with the control group, NYHA classification 
      (I-II: 1 versus 21, III-IV: 20 versus 0, P<0.05) and LVEF (30.62+/-6.19% versus 
      45.83+/-5.06%, P<0.05) were increased, and plasma NT-proBNP was reduced 
      (458.35+/-193.16 pg/mL versus 2921.52+/-1395.97 pg/mL, P<0.05) in the experimental 
      group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed levosimendan significantly and safely 
      improved clinical outcomes of refractory heart failure in elderly patients.
FAU - Zhang, Dengqing
AU  - Zhang D
AD  - Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical 
      University, Chongqing, China (mainland).
FAU - Yao, Yuanqing
AU  - Yao Y
AD  - Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical 
      University, Chongqing, China (mainland).
FAU - Qian, Jun
AU  - Qian J
AD  - Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical 
      University, Chongqing, China (mainland).
FAU - Huang, Jing
AU  - Huang J
AD  - Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical 
      University, Chongqing, China (mainland).
LA  - eng
PT  - Clinical Trial, Phase I
PT  - Clinical Trial, Phase II
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Randomized Controlled Trial
DEP - 20150820
PL  - United States
TA  - Med Sci Monit
JT  - Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and 
      clinical research
JID - 9609063
RN  - 0 (Anti-Arrhythmia Agents)
RN  - 0 (Hydrazones)
RN  - 0 (Peptide Fragments)
RN  - 0 (Pyridazines)
RN  - 0 (pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76))
RN  - 114471-18-0 (Natriuretic Peptide, Brain)
RN  - 349552KRHK (Simendan)
RN  - AYI8EX34EU (Creatinine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Aged
MH  - Aged, 80 and over
MH  - Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/*therapeutic use
MH  - Asian People
MH  - China
MH  - Creatinine/blood
MH  - Female
MH  - Heart Failure/blood/*drug therapy/physiopathology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hydrazones/*therapeutic use
MH  - Male
MH  - Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood
MH  - Peptide Fragments/blood
MH  - Prospective Studies
MH  - Pyridazines/*therapeutic use
MH  - Simendan
MH  - Stroke Volume/drug effects
MH  - Treatment Outcome
PMC - PMC4548701
EDAT- 2015/08/21 06:00
MHDA- 2016/04/23 06:00
PMCR- 2015/08/20
CRDT- 2015/08/21 06:00
PHST- 2015/08/21 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2015/08/21 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2016/04/23 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2015/08/20 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 893580 [pii]
AID - 10.12659/MSM.893580 [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Med Sci Monit. 2015 Aug 20;21:2439-45. doi: 10.12659/MSM.893580.